Hi Peter,
I am begining to think that there are several different things to consider as it is obvious that although you all have the same or similar symptoms they could all be caused by something different.
I am still thinking about Alan's excellent photo's.
It is great to have problems like this on the forum as it really makes you think hard of all the possibilities and probabilities.
JB.
Tomato problems
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alan refail
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Morning Johnboy
I thought it would give you something to puzzle about. It certainly has me foxed.
Alan
I thought it would give you something to puzzle about. It certainly has me foxed.
Alan
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PLUMPUDDING
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Alan,
Yes mine look just like that. I still think it is the compost, as although some are affected and some not, it seems certain varieties are more susceptible to it than others. I've grown two of each variety and both are either affected or both not, eg the Early cascade and Double rich all look like Alan's picture, but the Black Krim and Cherokee Green seem quite happy. The Cornu des Andes are also affected, but the Sungold and Abraham Lincoln are OK.
I forgot to mention that to try and help them recover, as well as extra watering, I've topped up all the ring culture pots with ordinary compost so they might be able to root in that from the stems, and some of them are sending out normal green shoots from the tops.
Yes mine look just like that. I still think it is the compost, as although some are affected and some not, it seems certain varieties are more susceptible to it than others. I've grown two of each variety and both are either affected or both not, eg the Early cascade and Double rich all look like Alan's picture, but the Black Krim and Cherokee Green seem quite happy. The Cornu des Andes are also affected, but the Sungold and Abraham Lincoln are OK.
I forgot to mention that to try and help them recover, as well as extra watering, I've topped up all the ring culture pots with ordinary compost so they might be able to root in that from the stems, and some of them are sending out normal green shoots from the tops.
Hello PP
I think you might be on the right track. I suspect that its perhaps something in the compost or feeding of the plants, particularly after you've noticed that it occurred when you changed to a different B&Q compost. I have seen some references to this problem when trawling Google that it can occur when there is a lack of calcium in the compost. As well as blossom end rot (BER) a lack of calcium can cause browning and die back of the growing tips. Some sites report that excessive watering can lead to low calcium levels.
A quick fix although this will not repair any existing damage would be a foliar feed of Chempak Calcium (calcium nitrate) solution with some solution to the roots. It certainly won't do any harm and would help prevent BER.
It would be interesting to hear from those of you with this problem more info about what you are growing your plants in, what you are feeding them with and your watering techniques.
John
I think you might be on the right track. I suspect that its perhaps something in the compost or feeding of the plants, particularly after you've noticed that it occurred when you changed to a different B&Q compost. I have seen some references to this problem when trawling Google that it can occur when there is a lack of calcium in the compost. As well as blossom end rot (BER) a lack of calcium can cause browning and die back of the growing tips. Some sites report that excessive watering can lead to low calcium levels.
A quick fix although this will not repair any existing damage would be a foliar feed of Chempak Calcium (calcium nitrate) solution with some solution to the roots. It certainly won't do any harm and would help prevent BER.
It would be interesting to hear from those of you with this problem more info about what you are growing your plants in, what you are feeding them with and your watering techniques.
John
The Gods do not subtract from the allotted span of men’s lives, the hours spent fishing Assyrian tablet
What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning Werner Heisenberg
I am a man and the world is my urinal
What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning Werner Heisenberg
I am a man and the world is my urinal
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PLUMPUDDING
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Thanks John, not sure about a lack of calcium as there is no sign of blossom end rot, but I might try a calcium boost on one plant to see if it makes any difference.
As I've said, the only difference to what I do every year is the compost, so that is perhaps too rich in something which may be locking up other nutrients or something on those lines.
As I've said, the only difference to what I do every year is the compost, so that is perhaps too rich in something which may be locking up other nutrients or something on those lines.
Hi Alan,
Try this for size!
http://images.google.co.uk/images
And type Tomato Mosaic Virus.
Sadly I reckon this is your problem and because of the lack of chlorophyll in the leaves they scorch very easily. So I think that the browning is scorch and the other TMV.
Not very good and I regret I am the bringer of bad tidings.
JB.
PS. Been off line for a couple of days due to a lorry taking down one of the poles carrying my line!
Try this for size!
http://images.google.co.uk/images
And type Tomato Mosaic Virus.
Sadly I reckon this is your problem and because of the lack of chlorophyll in the leaves they scorch very easily. So I think that the browning is scorch and the other TMV.
Not very good and I regret I am the bringer of bad tidings.
JB.
PS. Been off line for a couple of days due to a lorry taking down one of the poles carrying my line!
Last edited by Johnboy on Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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alan refail
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Good to see you back online - not a lorry driver with a satnav?
You seem to have hit the nail on the head again. Many thanks. Not such bad news - two of the four affected plants are growing through it and I still have 28 unaffected plants showing no signs of problems, so plenty of tomatoes.
Alan
You seem to have hit the nail on the head again. Many thanks. Not such bad news - two of the four affected plants are growing through it and I still have 28 unaffected plants showing no signs of problems, so plenty of tomatoes.
Alan
Hello everybody,
Have just been away for the weekend, and some, again, not all of my tomato plants are looking very poorly, see my earlier posts on this matter. The odd thing is, any fruits that have formed do not seem affected. Now the leaves on the worst affected plants are turning yellow/brown from the ribs/veins outwards. Also, my chilli plants do not look very healthy. They are all growing in Wickes' general purpose compost (75 litre bags, it was on offer!) I have potatoes and crrots growing in tubs and they have been fantastic, no problems at all. I would go along with earlier postings regarding compost quality, reduced chlorophyll and a susceptibility to strong sunlight. At risk of opening a huge can of worms here, could the compost be affected by the same chemical as the great contaminated manure issue??
Over to you Alan, Johnboy etc.
Regards, Essexboy.
P.S Should have added, the carrots and potatoes in tubs are growing in the same compost.
Have just been away for the weekend, and some, again, not all of my tomato plants are looking very poorly, see my earlier posts on this matter. The odd thing is, any fruits that have formed do not seem affected. Now the leaves on the worst affected plants are turning yellow/brown from the ribs/veins outwards. Also, my chilli plants do not look very healthy. They are all growing in Wickes' general purpose compost (75 litre bags, it was on offer!) I have potatoes and crrots growing in tubs and they have been fantastic, no problems at all. I would go along with earlier postings regarding compost quality, reduced chlorophyll and a susceptibility to strong sunlight. At risk of opening a huge can of worms here, could the compost be affected by the same chemical as the great contaminated manure issue??
Over to you Alan, Johnboy etc.
Regards, Essexboy.
P.S Should have added, the carrots and potatoes in tubs are growing in the same compost.
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alan refail
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Essexboy wrote:Hello everybody,
At risk of opening a huge can of worms here, could the compost be affected by the same chemical as the great contaminated manure issue??
Over to you Alan, Johnboy etc.
Regards, Essexboy.
In my case, definitely not - I am not using compost.
Having said that, I would always be wary of buying cheap, untried compost. But I doubt whether producers put manure, contaminated or otherwise, in their formulation. I may be wrong
