Is this mosaic virus on my toms?

[Caro]

Hi,

I'm concerned about yellowing / yellow patches on the leaves of my tomatoes. The moneymaker plants look more affected than the marmande. I gather that if it is mosaic virus, then it's dig them up and burn them ?

The plants seem perfectly healthy apart from that, I have a few trusses flowering and baby toms on a couple of trusses.

Any advice gratefully received!

Many thanks

Caro

[bramble]

Hi Caro, lots of the leaves on my toms have spots like that.
Can't tell you exactly what it is but usually happens to the lower leaves which i pick off once the trusses of toms have formed.
Its not mosiac virus, so relax.

[seasprout]

Its not a Virus, I see your plants are in Soil..I bet they need a feed.

As the plants get a little older they do get that blobing.

Yours look normal.

[Caro]

Thank you both so much. It's my first year with a greenhouse and raised beds and I dreaded something as serious as a virus. I'll get right out with the Tomorite and hopefully be enjoying lovely toms in a few weeks!

Caro

[Paulottie]

Not virus but Magnesium or Potassium shortage. Apart from tell tale leaves, you can see how much nitrogen is in the soil from the algae growing on it.

[organic vic]

Paulottie - Thanks I was worrying about algae growing on the soil! I have been scraping it off and replacing with fresh compost is this right or should I just leave it? No other problems with my plants just algae and in some pots I am getting funny white mushrooms which I have been picking out - do you know what this signifys?

[Paulottie]

Not really a prob the algae as such in the border, but just tends to indicate that there is too much spare nitrogen available. It is more annoying with seed trays and young plants in pots (they don't need much nourishment) you can reduce this by using a low nutrient seed compost (instead of multi purpose) and watering with tap rather than rain butt water.

Mushrooms in pots might indicate poor drainage. A dose of Cheshunt compound might see them off.

[organic vic]

Thanks Paulottie, Does the algae mean there is an inbalance with P & K nutrients? Is Cheshunt compound ok for organic use?

[Paulottie]

Potassium inhibits the uptake of nitrogen and the other way round. So yes there is an imbalance

Not sure if it is soil assoc. approved. But it is a copper sulphate base like Bordeaux mixture and that is....so my guess is it is OK.