Tomato plants wilting??

[darcyvuqua]

My tomato plants are wilting but only the bottom set of leaves!

Watering is the same as any other plants I have that are all fine! They were the earliest toms that were sown all I can think of is that my wife closed the curtains the other night and it may have caused a really cold pocket!

The top growth is fine nice and green would that cold have caused them to wilt??

[marchogaeth]

How much top growth have you got? The bottom leaves do fade away as they grow but I assume this isn't what you mean. Pic?

[darcyvuqua]

It's the bottom two leaves!

[rustylady]

Looks like they got a draught

[darcyvuqua]

Looks like they got a draught

Yeah that's what I thought as the ones affected are next to the dog crate and we ensure that it's left open slightly 24/7 as my dog seems to have a lot of gas

[darcyvuqua]

Will they be ok as the top growth is fine!
Would you pull those affected leaves off

I have some smaller ones on another window I'm not bothered if I do lose them as I have loads but these would be the first fruiters

[marchogaeth]

Well if it was me, I would clean the stem of the dead leaves and then make a long, tall pot out of a 500g yogurt pot or the bottom of a 1l water bottle and bury the plant in it up to the good leaves. That way the stem is supported and it will make roots all along its length so your plant ends up healthier. You don't just go for a bigger pot as the roots will run to the outside and not be as effective a root ball (If I understand correctly).

PS I have used tetra packs to make long pots before now

[Kristen]

I'm not convinced that deep potting-on is beneficial, although I have no doubt that burying the stem of a Tomato plant causes it to make roots

Last year I potted-on half my Tomato plants into deep "Rose" pots, and the other half into normal 2L pots, they were then planted out into the border of my cold greenhouse (so unlikely to be any difference in soil / watering between the various plants).

They were probably in the 2L / Deep pots for about a month - long enough to show a difference I imagine. They had been raised in 9cm pots before potting on.

What I should have done (and might try this year ) is to pot them all on into Deep Rose pots, but only half of them to bury-deep.

My thinking is that if you pot-on to bury deep you put the existing rootball at the bottom of the new container. There is thus very little new compost under the rootball, so the plant has to make all its new roots upwards, or from the stem (which must take a little while to occur). Whereas with normal potting-on there is as much soil under the rootball as possible. With pot-on deep you also use more compost (might be a minor consideration)

Thus I think better to plant out "deep" instead, then the plant can create new roots from the stem over the whole of the growing season.

Dunno if there is any research that anyone has stumbled over that they have a link to perhaps?

[Bill HH]

If anything a good shot of dog gas should air fertilise the plant.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I would go along with Marchogaeth suggestion. The dead leaves will do no good and could help harbour pests as they decay. Potting on deep will certainly help, water from the bottom and be careful not to over water before the roots have got established.

I find this size 'deep but not wide' of pot best for potting on in these circumstances.

Potty

[marchogaeth]

I find this size 'deep but not wide' of pot best for potting on in these circumstances.
Potty

Nice pot! Who makes those, please?

[Potstubsdustbins]

I have been asked this before. Mine were given to me by a friend who bought masses of them to bring on palm tree seedlings. I think the last time the subject came up 2Sheds found something similar but of a lighter build. Hopefully she will see this and point you in the right direction.

Potty

[Kristen]

Its what I would call a "Clematis Pot" in case that helps you find some. I bought a job-lot of eBay a year or two back. I use them for Snowdrops

[Kristen]

Ermmm ... and I think they may also be called "Tall Toms" (which i don't think has anything to do with Tomatoes ... but it might do!)

[marchogaeth]

I have been asked this before. Mine were given to me by a friend who bought masses of them to bring on palm tree seedlings. I think the last time the subject came up 2Sheds found something similar but of a lighter build. Hopefully she will see this and point you in the right direction.

Potty

Thanks. I was more curious than anything as I hadn't seen their like before. I'm very happy with my yogurt pots (also brilliant for brassicas!).