Tomato troubles

[flowertot]

Hi all,

I'm asking on behalf of my dad. One or two of his tomato plants have developed strange rings/spots? on the fruit - Wondering what the could be, I don't think it looks like blight. The plants are in his green house and are ailsa craig. Any thoughts as to what it is and wether or not its treatable?

[rustylady]

Why has he picked them off? From the photos I can't see much wrong with them.

[flowertot]

The first picture is a bit blurry the second one is a bit clearer. The smaller tomatoes in particular are covered in small hard raised spots - when you touch the Tomatoes its even more obvious. Not sure if its something thats purely cosmetic or something more sinister. We picked those off as its starting to spread on the basis better to lose 3 and be on the safe side than to lose his entire crop which unfortunately happened the past 2 years running.

[Potstubsdustbins]

FT google ghost spot see if that bears any resemblance to your problem

Colin

[Thelma Sanders]

looks like spotted wilt virus, but I don't think that is common in the UK

[flowertot]

had a bit of a google on both of those. It could be either the ghost spot or the spotted wilt virus looking at some of the pics - I'm hoping for the ghost spot as it seems much less serious. I suspect it could the Ghost spot on the basis we cut back some of the lower foliage a couple of weeks ago as the greenhouse was getting pretty overcrowded and he was worried about ventilation - which ties in with what I read.

[Bigmallly]

I could be way off the mark but they look identical to these but then again my eyes are very old..........

Google Image Result for http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/images/bactcanker2.jpg

[Aberdeenplotter]

My eyes are very old as well but I think you are spot on with your diagnosis BM.

I'd be clearing everything out of the greenhouse including the soil in the beds, disinfecting with a strong solution of j e y e s fluid, blasting everything clean with a pressure washer and then re-disinfect. Be sure to clean and disinfect all tools and chuck out any canes and tying materials.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I am going to stick my neck out here. The fact sheet your reading from is from British Columbia where the disease is prevalent. According to DEFRA bacterial canker as been identified in the past in the UK but it was not established. I think you would be very very unlucky if that was the disease you have.

Colin

[veggiechicken]

We've had several questions recently about mystery spots on tomatoes. Like this:
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...elp_67383.html
This was the only one I could find in a quick search but I'm sure there have been others.
Maybe the same common problem but being described in different ways........

[Potstubsdustbins]

Ghost spot is usually caused by poor ventilation and the splashing of fruit whilst watering causing grey mould rings.

Colin

[flowertot]

The spots do look very similar to the bacterial canker photo. The only thing is my dad said he first noticed it a couple of weeks ago and although its spread its only on one of his 8 plants. The rest of the plant is looking pretty healthy. Would you not expect the Bacterial Canker to have affected everything as it says it spreads pretty rapidly?

[flowertot]

Ghost spot is usually caused by poor ventilation and the splashing of fruit whilst watering causing grey mould rings.

Colin

Interesting about the splashing thing. It started not long after my dad got back from holiday - Normally he's pretty careful about watering from below but my brother (who's not a gardener) was looking after his plants and generally speaking he tends to just point a hose at them

[Potstubsdustbins]

FT if you google bacterial canker there are lots of other symptoms which don't fit with the rest of the plant looking healthy.

Colin

[Bigmallly]

FT if you google bacterial canker there are lots of other symptoms which don't fit with the rest of the plant looking healthy.

Colin

That's why I was hoping I was way off the mark. BC also attacks the stems & leaves. It is a canny resemblance though.