The usual Tomato probs, yellowing, disease / pest?

18 years ago

Been browsing this forum for the past couple of years, due to the trouble I've had lately w/ tomatoes. This will be my 4th year growing them, with each year seemingly more difficult.

The last 2 years (and this year isn't looking so hot) have resulted in my crop dying off before I even get many tomatoes.

Last year I really hit them w/ a variety of things after researching possible diseases and pests. Neem, Daconil, insecticide spray, sevin, even Malathion when I pretty much gave up. Nothing seems to help much.

I had figured perhaps my soil (heavy clay) was part of the cause, and this season built raised beds with mostly good composted manure (not the free municipal stuff). It's been a wet cool season (in the midwest) for the most part, and the plants have grown slowly b/c of it.

But recently I'm getting more yellowing and diseased looking leaves. The last few days things are really starting to scare me into thinking I may not get much this year either. What's worse is I leave town soon and won't return for 10 days. I have a feeling I may come back to a dead garden again :(

I've tried doing some self diagnosing, but keep going in circles as to what may be the problem. At this point I'm hoping somebody here can help at least identify what is going on, in hopes that I can correct it at least in the future. I'm no expert on bugs, but I have seen some - those that are visible to the naked eye at least - on my leaves. There are also dark spots on the bad leaves, visible in some of the pics below, and I'm not sure if they are very small bugs or the result of bugs / disease.

I have approx 30 plants that include 10 varieties, most started from seed, but this seems to be effecting most of the plants. The BHN640 and Big Beefs seem to look slightly worse than most and make up the majority of pics.

Any help is very much appreciated!!

Here are some pics taken this evening. The yellowing begins at the bottom and is appearing to work it's way up. I've gone a little light this year on applying anything. I've used sevin once, daconil once, and neem once a week for the past month. They took a nasty hit from a hail storm last week as well - poor guys.

{{gwi:1298485}}

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Comments (6)

alfabit1
Original Author
18 years ago
I've considered them a possibility - always associated phsyllid damage starting at the top though. I really need to invest in a magnifying glass :)
alfabit1
Original Author
18 years ago
Just a follow up on my plants:

Prior to leaving on vacation I hit them w/ insecticidal soap, Daconil (Ortho Disease Control), and a good fertilizing with an extra dose of N. I just returned after being away for 11 days and was pleasantly surprised to find them rebounding quite well. I've got new, dark green growth w/ large leaves, flowers and tomatoes. I'm still not exactly sure of the cause, but at least my plants are looking much better. I can say the issues I've had this season do NOT appear to be the same I've had in previous years, so I'm hopeful they will make it this year!
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yogagardengirl
18 years ago
Thanks for the pics- my tomatos (also in raised beds) also have the bottom yellowing of the leaves. I did try some general fertilizer about a month ago but it didn't seem to do anything. (also, this soil mix i'm using (from Square Foot Garden book) says i'm not really supposed to need fertilizer...) anyway, do you think it might also have to do with watering? (over?)
thanks,
christy
alfabit1
Original Author
18 years ago
Another Update

Plants have definitely improved, are probably twice the size they were in the original pics, and have filled out quite a bit. While they're behind, fruit is beginning to set. On several plants I've pinched off the lower branches / leaves (a good foot off the ground) due to them yellowing and dying. The upper 2/3rds of the plants are a nice dark healthy green. They are continuing to grow - but I'm keeping a close eye on the lower leaves.

While I've lost some lower sections of the plants, those where the leaves have died off (or branches I've removed b/c of it) have new green growths sprouting.

Christy ^^
I too didn't want to fertilize much, especially considering I purchased some really good compost. I don't know if it's the change in weather or the fact that I fertilized but the plants look much better now. I doubt overwatering is my problem as I've held off this year. They only get water when the soil is very dry.

I'll try to take some new pics in the next day or so.

Joe
alfabit1
Original Author
18 years ago
Here are some more pics snapped tonight. The close-ups are pretty much the same damage I'm seeing on most plants. Leaves will yellow partially, usually the tips will begin to brown leading to the entire leaf dying. It then proceeds to get the whole branch.

Insect damage?? Anyone?
mouse_moose
18 years ago
I'd be curious to hear more thoughts on this situation. I'm researching a nearly-identical looking issue in my own garden... and I'll post my own pics in a new thread, perhaps, but these ones look just like what I'm facing.

Any ideas?