Watered w/diluted iron chelates or some such thing.

Treatment did diddly squat, zip, nought, nuda. Except kill off the growing tips. Went for the tried-and-true replacement therapy. Relaced spade-depth of soil with potting mix and replaced sick seedlings with spares. Sick seedlings had one tough tap root and that was it. No fine white roots at all. Thus, unable to draw nutrients. Fingers crossed.

Grub-- Just passing through and your observations caught my eye. I think you are on the right track. I ran across an article on growing greenhouse tomatoes in both soil and soilless mixes. (by AP Papadopoulos, Canada)
Here is what it says about iron deficiencies:
"Iron def., a frequent problem, is usually expressed in chlorotic young leaves. Similar to calcium def., iron deficiency is, in most cases induced.

Indirect causes of iron def. may be soil ph that is too high, a manganese level that is too high, and poor root growth or poor anaerobic soil conditions resulting from over-watering.

In many cases, improved soil aeration or drying out the soil or peat corrects the problems. Soil applications and foliar sprays of salts or iron chelates are helpful, but the most recommended action is the elimination of the source of the problem."

Since , as you noted, your pH may be too high I was also wondering about the overwatering bit as you say you had no root develoment. I know you know that too much water or saturated soil certainly rots the roots (also too much fertilizer may burn them). Do you think overwatering could have played a role too or was it just the high pH???

Could you get a free pH test (professional one) someplace to check the surrounding soil as you said you only replaced a spade full?

I too, am dealing with extreme pH so will spray micro-nutrients (read that helps) as I just cant get the soil down to the recommended pH levels with organic matter quick enough and am not interested in trying straight sulphur.

Boy, it must be really painful to lose TWO EARL'S FAUX! I just lost 95 plants to hurricane Wilma and I was most upset at demise of 2 EFs. I've read so much about it. One did sprout up again from broken stem and another I managed to get a cutting before pitching the whole thing. Last of my EF seeds aren't germinating so I will baby these two plants. If it gets cold here I will be out there with a blanket and babysit them. Good luck with your garden and looking for pictures on gallery.

Hi Farkee,
I do think overwatering has contributed to the problem. But it's not my own doing. We have had two weeks of drizzle and rain and 99 per cent humidity or so it seems. When I planted the seedlings out I laid down a very very thick layer of lucerne mulch. It has turned to pulp and full of bugs and mould. I think it was all too much for them.

However, I replaced the Mule Team with another Mule Team and I replaced another with the same spare. Both Earl's Faux's look like they might just make it. I have a spare Earl's Faux in case they don't. Looks like I will lose one or two others and have to use alternatives, such as Neves Azorean or Ashleigh or Marianna's Peace or something.

The weather has just been so wet. The grass take two cuttings a week if in fact it has time to dry out. In for some hot dry days now so fingers crossed. But it does pay to keep those spares going for a while.

All the best. :Grub.

Spares are very nice indeed. I had an extra 50 heirloom transplants (half of which I was going to give away) but when the hurrican came and wiped out most of the tomatoes all my altruistic feelings went out the window and I planted them all in my OWN garden. Is that selfish or what? Thank goodness no one was expecting or waiting for these plants--lying that they all blew away would have been very bad. It was that or go get Better Boys and Sweet 100's from Home Depot.

Lol. You sound like you were better prepared for the hurricane than the authorities.

It's interesting comparing the size of my spares in foam cups, still pretty small, to their brethren in the ground, which are 2ft tall but for those in the dud patch.

You made a good call about Earl's Faux. It will kill me to see this one, in its first season for me, shrivel and die. But I'm very much hoping they pull through.

Sprayed with Daconil y'day. Kimberly looking a little tinged. I have two Sweet 100s over 6ft tall. Blahhhh. Sweet nothings really.

Take care. From another Zone 10er ;)Grub.

They are still slow in that bed. I'm convinced Kimberly hates the heat and humidity even though it's setting fruit. Everything else is taking off. We had 38.9C or 100F+ today and some leaf margins are fried. But I must say Sophie's Choice seems to like it. Time will tell. Take care. I've fallen in love with Christmas fruit pies taken with a cup of tea :)Grub.

They are still slow in that bed. I'm convinced Kimberly hates the heat and humidity even though it's setting fruit. Everything else is taking off. We had 38.9C or 100F+ today and some leaf margins are fried. But I must say Sophie's Choice seems to like it. Time will tell. Take care. I've fallen in love with Christmas fruit pies taken with a cup of tea :)Grub.

Actually I like Sweet 100's-I have grown lots of heirloom cherries and still like Sweet 100's best. I even like Better Boys but I did not want 50 of each of them.

Glad to hear that the plants in that one bed are recovering-- when you say everything else is taking off I presume you mean Earl's Faux too so that is good news. Looks like you will finally be able to try one.

Sweet 100 are getting better, sweeter not more tomatoey. I have high hopes for Matt's Wild and Quartz Multiflora as a zippy red cherry/currant.

The ones in the bed are slowly coming around. I just hope they aren't overshadowed by the surrounding giants. I do want to try an EF for summer.

Best wishes. Grub:)

Grub,

AS long as the soil is not waterlogged, which prevents uptake of minerals/nutrients, and the soil pH is within limits, which can also prevent uptakes of minerals/nutrients, I gave up long ago on trying to make definitive diagnoses of mineral deficiencies.

Just too many of them tend to look the same and also change symtoms right in front of you. LOL

So when someone thinks they have a mineral deficiency and all else is OK I suggest a nice vigorous spray with a fish or seaweed prep which are both rich in minerals and other nutrients.

Carolyn