Software
Houzz Logo Print
laccanvas_gw

Help with tomato seedlings.

14 years ago

My tomato seedlings have this weird looking crust on the bottom of their leaves. It is on the spine of the leaves and it is a brownish creamish color. Some leaves on other plants that don't have the crust, have weird looking small round indentions.... the size of a ball point pen. It started with my Cherokee Purple plants for the crust....the round indentions on my Early Girls. Also....the leaves on my Cherokee Purples are really curly (inwards).HELP.

Comments (8)

  • 14 years ago

    Really need to see a photo. Your description could be anything form a mold to aphids to some sort of nutrient deficiency to who knows what. Based on this limited info I would suspect some pest infestation.

    Are these plants indoors or in a green house? How old are they? What are they growing in?

    Dave

  • 14 years ago

    Sorry...no photo...using an old computer...laptop getting fixed.

    I want to say that it is insect related too...but it looks very odd. They seem to exhibit only on my Cherokee Purples which have extremely curly leaves inward. The Early Girls have the indention issue, but not too bad.

    I am growing about 12 other varieties too indoors...not greenhouse, but my home. They are not exhibiting any issues.

    I am using the same fertilizer on all of the tomato seedlings...soil drench.

    I have seen a few fungus knats...caught one stink bug on the kitchen floor.

    I am confused. It looks like a dry beige colored flaky stuff on the spine of the leaves..on the front and back.
    A little on the stem too. Maybe it has something to do with the seeds.

  • 14 years ago

    laccanvas, in case it's some sort of disease, you can look here:
    Cornell's tomato leaf disease info

    For the brown crusty stuff, you might want to consider tomato russet mites. I don't know how they would have found your indoor tomatoes; were you re-using pots? I am not an expert on these mites, but it may well be that's what you have:
    http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/success_stories/T&PGuide/pdfs/Chapter4/Russet_Mite.pdf

    What color are the small round indentations? Is the indentation on the top of the leaf, the bottom, or both?

  • 14 years ago

    The indentations are like a rash under the leaves, but you can only see the rash through a light...but you can feel it. The rash goes inward from the top of the leaf, so the underside feel slightly bumpy. It's only on the Early Girls. I did not reuse anything this season. New potting mix...Organic Jiffy stuff. Using Liquid Fertilizer, organic. THe othe tomato plants next to these plants are not being affected by the "rash". The browninsh crusty stuff has been found on my Greogory Altai tomato plant too...now exhibiting curly leaves like the Cherokee purples...the Gregory ALtai was next to the CP plants.

  • 14 years ago

    Thanks for the link!!!!!!!!
    The Cornell one.

    Didn't think I would figure it out on the link...but at the last minute I clicked on the "edema" section. It is EDEMA..for sure...a mild version.

    Now I have to figure out the rash on my EG's. Thanks again.

  • 14 years ago

    I think the cause of my issues is due to my watering with warm water. Didn't think that would even affect them, but it sure does. I thought that if you use warm water, it would create a greenhouse effect or something, but I think they don't like it.

  • 14 years ago

    For avoiding EDEMA:

    1. Avoid irrigation or watering during cool, overcast humid weather. For potted plants in greenhouses, remove saucers under pots, or discard any water that remains in the saucer 30 minutes after watering. Irrigate or water when air temperature are rising or humidity is low.

    2. In greenhouses: a) reduce the humidity of the air by venting and increasing heat; b) improve air circulation; c) increase light intensity; d) space the plants farther apart; e) for potted plants use a well-drained potting medium for potted plants and avoid standing water in saucers under the pots.

    3. Avoid overfertilizing, especially when the plants are growing slowly, such as during the winter months. Maintain fertility based on a soil test. Avoid low levels of potassium and calcium.

    4. Avoid cultivars that are highly susceptible to edema under your growing conditions.

  • 14 years ago

    Ah -- I was going to give you an edema link as well (for the indentations). But I haven't actually seen edema, just read about it.

    Glad everything's okay.