Software
Houzz Logo Print
nkessler0709

Rapid developing tomato & cuc problem!? help :/

16 years ago

1.)tomato problem

{{gwi:62420}}

2.) cucumber sunscald?

{{gwi:62421}}

1.) This is my first year and im very upset! I didnt get a chance to look out today in the sunlight, but I went to water them tonight after dark, and noticed that my tomato plants all had brown edges on lower leaves. No problems that I can see otherwise. My grape tomatoes seem to have sorta folded in half on the new growth, but I donÂt know if thatÂs normal at night. I do have sevin dust on them so they look powdery, but im positive that is not a symptom. I have looked everywhere to see any if diseases look similar, but no luck. There were a few close, but there are very few "spots" and it seems to only be brown/tan from the edge and inward. This appeared within 24hr and im scared its gonna wipe me out if I donÂt do something soon!

Plant details:

*I have money makers, yellow pears, grape and red delicious (which are extremely small for same day planting), all from seed planted may 17th, transplanted around may 30th at 3inches.

*I probably do over water, but they are in *containers* and I was told in the dry heat (90-100) we have been having in mid-TN, that container gardens mostly need it everyday. I do wait until the top of soil is dry though.

*There are 3 to 4 plants per huge 40gal(ish) Rubbermaid tub, and I planted with a mix of cheap walmart topsoil, miracle grow potting soil (6mo feed) or evergreen potting soil (6mo)..and honestly a few other kinds that were on sale at the time bc it took several bags for my many containers. I made sure it had at least half of a good soil/brand with fertilizer.

*I have fed with all purpose miracle grow 2 times so far this month.

* They are all on my deck in full sun from about 8am-4pm if not more.

*I have a few clear plastic containers, and have noticed a few tiny white mushrooms with a brown dot on the top and fading into the white body (pictured in link). There has been some green slimey stuff starting in a few spots on top of my soil, but I thought (until now) that if you put soil + water + sun + foliageÂyou are BOUND to get some fungus or mold. So is this contributing or is it fairly common? I have more pictures in the link below of detailed shots.

-----------------------------------------------------------

SECONDLY...

IÂm more concerned for my tomatoes, but my matured cucumber leaves are also funny looking and cant seem to match it up with diseases. IÂm thinking sunscald which is why im not overly concerned, but can anyone verify? More pics at link below. Although the pics look to be yellowing, it is more of a loss in color to where they are almost see through. Also the white is sevin dust.

THANKS FOR ANY HELP! I also need to know what yo do, or if there is even anything that I can do. Im new and if there is something that im leaving out or posting too much of, especially too many questions, I apologize. Im just the only gardener in my family/friend circles :)

Comments (7)

  • 16 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    forgot the photobucket link lol. my pictures from a wk or two ago are in a different album on the page, and they all looked pretty healthy to me then :(

    http://s777.photobucket.com/albums/yy54/nkessler2/sick%20plants/

  • 16 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Why would you put a poison like Sevin on your plants? You need certain bugs (like bees) for pollination and Sevin will KILL them, among other things. I have tomatoes in 5 gallon drilled buckets and I water every day, I have yet to see any mold/fungus. On the other hand the kids basketball court is right beside the garden and it has sitting water on the basketball basket holder thingy and it's full of algae so you could be over watering. Did you drill enough holes in the bottom for drainage? Another thing, are you sure it's not fertilizer burn from all the chemicals in the fertilizers you used?

  • 16 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I know sevin is controversal, but I has having a bad problem with bugs. they are attracted to another big bush and...I was trying to prevent disease from the bugs lol. How ironic! June bugs among many others would eat half the plants in one night. the insecticidal soap wasn't working, I tried. I was careful about dusting with no breeze and in evening because i was aware of the bee issue. I wont use it anymore, trust me :) Glad to know you water everyday, makes me feel better about mine. I just found something this morning saying
    "Leaf-burn or scorch generally indicates root injury, quite often caused by heavy amounts of fertilizer applied too near the roots. This injury often results in browning and die back of the ends and margins of the leaves. Other possible causes are root injury caused by nematodes, insects or physical injury by cultivation. Also overwatering or underwatering along with diseases might cause leaf-tip burn."
    there is no picture, but my plant fits the description! i hope that is all it is, but im not sure how to use a fertilizer in containers without getting it directly on the roots. I have poured about 2 liquid cups in tubs. Too much?
    Anyone think its disease? or should it be ok because it looks like chem/overwater/fertilizer burn?

  • 16 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Are you watering at night or in the morning? When you water in the morning or at noon, the sun will heat up creating a steam heat from the moisture. Try to water at night only, it should soak into the root before morning.

    You might try to get some gravel, pebbles, small creek rocks, to put in the bottom of your containers to create drainage if you don't want to drill a hole into it. Only about 2 inches of gravel should be all you need.

    I quit using miracle grow this year and did so much better. I'm not sure why, but you can even just take a little manure, mix it with water to make what they call a tea, water with the tea every day or once a week. That is more than enough fertilizer. You can search on here for fertilizer tea recipes to get a correct ratio of manure to water.

    Also the top inch or two of your buckets don't represent the dryness of your soil. Stick a stick down in there or your finger along the sides for about 5 inches or so to see if it feels damp. If so, only water every other day.

    Leaves will go limp because of the heat, they pick up at the end of the day, so don't think they need water because they are a little limp.

    I hope that helps!

  • 16 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I water in the evening...never in the day and I try to keep it on the roots only. I do have a few rocks scatered in the bottom, with 4 holes, just a bit smaller than a dime in the 5 gal buckets, and 6 in the large containers.

    I have heard aout the manure tea, but had forhotten. I think im gonna wait a week at least b4 trying anything else...considering it still maybe chemical burn! I will try that tho!
    Another question, I know...but i mixed a Tbs of MG per gallon of water and poured it around each plant. I'd say no more than 1cup to each plant. is that too much or diluted improserly?

    thanks for everyone's responce. i still haven't figured it out really, so keep the ideas comeing :)

  • 16 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Yup, I've used Sevin during a bug attack
    You should rinse the inert power off the leaves--it blocks them from the sun

    It does look like you've got some kind of burn from salt or fertilizer buildup in the soil

    Unless you know you might have put on too much fertilizer,
    you should check the soil for other problems

  • 16 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I just looked at your pictures
    Your plants are all in containers?

    If so, salt/fertilizer buildup can be a real problem
    Anything that's not absorbed by the plant roots
    has nowhere else to go

Sponsored
High Point Cabinets
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars21 Reviews
Columbus' Experienced Custom Cabinet Builder | 4x Best of Houzz Winner