Tomato worries

[Deltawhiskey]

I have two container grown cherry tomato plants. They have been growing well up to now and have thee trusses and some small tomatoes on the lower ones. However, some of the leaves have developed purple markings. I have not been feeding them as I understood (I think wrongly) that you only fed after the first truss has set. I also notice that the upper bunches of leaves are angling upwards wher my raised bed toms are horizontal. Should I be worried?

David

[Jimmy]

I think people would want a picture.
Jimmy

[vixylix]

DW - my toms are all over the place, much like the weather.

Pics would definitely help

[Nannysally99]

Ditto for me too, funnily enough it's the tumbling toms that are ok
The rest of them are all over the place

[Thelma Sanders]

I have two container grown cherry tomato plants. They have been growing well up to now and have thee trusses and some small tomatoes on the lower ones.

I start feeding mine as soon as the first tomato truss has flowered. Your plants have run out of nutrients in the pot as they have grown up to third truss height. I wouldn't worry about the angle of the leaves, it is more important to start feeding the plants.

If you have any bigger pots you could move carefully move them into it would really help them recover, but if not, just make sure you feed them with liquid tomato feed regularly.

[maverick451]

Re the fertiliser

A member on here (sorry I dont remember which) said take it that the compost has no food in there and feed nearly straight away, personally I think served me well

I feed a higher nitrogen or a balanced mix up for the early season green growth until fruiting and then switch over to higher potash to help fruit.

[Jay-ell]

Purpling leaves could be a lack of either magnesium or phosphate.

[maverick451]

Purpling leaves could be a lack of either magnesium or phosphate.

A very good point above

When you buy tomato feed try and get one with added trace elements, i.e magnesium

[Deltawhiskey]

Thanks guys, any recommendations as to the best tomato fertiliser?

David

[MarkPelican]

A picture would be very useful. I'm not sure what you mean by "purple markings". If you've got pale/dark spots between the veins on the leaves, then its probably magnesium deficiency and, if its only affecting the old leaves, then its only to be expected but can be helped with epsom salts.

The "feed only when the first truss has set" theory (as I understand it) comes from the fact that:
a) Plants flower best when under stress; and
b) Feeding them nitrogen delays flowering.

Anyway, your first truss has set so you should be feeding them.

Give them a dilute feed and they'll probably be fine.

[Potstubsdustbins]

(1) Your containers should be at least 12ltrs per plant. Bluish/purple tinging is usually a sign of being to cold (very unlikely) or to dry (a good possibility in this weather) as well as a lack of nutrients.

(2) Growing in containers with new compost the nutrients will run out between 4 or 6 weeks and you will need to feed at this stage. I like to use a high nitrogen feed to begin with something like Miracle Gro this will help with the green growth, like other have said I change to high potash Tomorite when the first truss has flowers.