tomato plant problems!

[bikergirl]

Hi

My dad has had a problem with his tom plants in the greenhouse. They have developed a problem on the stem and aren't growing very well.



I gave him the plants, they are gardeners delight and mine I've still got at home are growing very well and have several trusses.

He has since bought some plug plant toms - not sure what variety - and although he was very disappointed with their quality when delivered, they now seem to have been infected with whatever is wrong with the big ones.

he remembers that two years ago the same thing happened with his tom plants.

he also has a couple of sweet pepper plants (again that I gave him - mine doing really well) that look like they are going downhill.

Any idea what it is and if its treatable??

Thank you!

[WendyC]

Middle and bottom photos seem to show that snails have been grazing on them. Perhaps visit the greenhouse after dark with a torch. As for the top one not sure if it is old snail damage which has started to heal.

[SimonWhitaker]

Maybe tomato stem primordia, if the plants are receiving too more water they will try and put more roots down to make up for it. Bumps and marks can appear all over the stem not just near the roots.

The fact that is not just the tomato's might suggest something external like water etc? I have had real problems with being over zealous with the water in the greenhouse!

[snakeshack]

I think it looks like slug/snail damage fwiw

[rustylady]

Looks more like physical damage to me too. I don't like the look of the plastic rings being used to attach the tomatoes to the canes, could they be the culprit?

[SimonWhitaker]

Just the picture of the younger seedlings looks looked they are damping off at the bottom

[Two_Sheds]

He's definitely overwatering.

The pots in the last photo have algae on the surface of the soil

[Potstubsdustbins]

I am with 2Sheds on this one far to much water.

The first two pics could be a touch of grey mould caused by to much humidity.

Potty

[SimonWhitaker]

Might be worth while getting a soil moisture meter it's amazing how dry the soil can be on the surface but saturated at the roots. I have spoilt many good plants over the years with too much water (even a few this year!)

[Two_Sheds]

Might be worth while getting a soil moisture meter

Nah, save your money. It's something you learn once you've been doing it a while. This might help though: how to water seedlings - YouTube

[bikergirl]

Thanks all - I'll pass the comments along to him

The ties are little cable ties - done loosely - less fiddly than string I think is the benefit.
My dad used to grow all sorts of things with lots of success, but the last couple of years he's had problems with things he never has had before - hopefully it will all come together again soon.

he was slightly jealous - in a nice way - when he called in today and had a look in the greenhouse. I'm pleased to say my plants are looking very healthy

[Potstubsdustbins]

A lot of people have had problems over the last couple of years, myself included.

I blame the weather.

Potty

[SimonWhitaker]

Maybe if we ever get a summer we will be ok?!

[WendyC]

Assuming he's using the same set up, I wonder whether any shrubs have grown up around the greenhouse over the last few years? Or overhanging trees? I realised last year this had happened last year and with the low light levels we had for most of the summer, gave them all a good haircut. Just a thought.

[bikergirl]

Thats a good point Wendy. The greenhouse isn't ideally situated, in that it has a summer house on one side, a big hedge at the back and trees creating shadows.

As has been said, the weather hasn't been great this year so maybe that is the problem. I'm presuming mine are OK as the greenhouse is south facing and completely open so if anything has too much light / sun!!