Can you please help identify the problem & solution?

18 years ago

Within the past day, I have had this problem develop on seedlings that have been outside since Feb 11. They are in an Earthbox in Miracle Grow Potting Mix with Moisture Control. Depth of the Mix is 10". Not the tan spots as well a yellowing base on some of the leaves:

We had a good sized rainstorm on Sunday, but I have had them in the full sun since then to dry things out. My moisture meter indicates acceptable range water content:

Thanks for your help.

Ray

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Comments (4)

digdirt2
18 years ago
Assuming there are no aphids on the undersides of the leaves? - and when I magnify the pic as much as I can there appears to be a few but I can't be positive because of the loss in resolution. I would next suspect sun scorching. Full sun on seedlings is harsh under the best of circumstances but if moisture remained on the leaves the full sun can then cause this type of mottled effect.

Aphids, if you find them need to be eliminated - your choice of method. If it's sun scorch they will recover if moved to an area out of full bright sun.

I'm assuming you don't plan to leave all these plants in this one container so how long before you plan to transplant these to their growing containers? Using the moisture meter for scale, several of them appear to be more than ready for their own home and nutrient supply. ;)

Hope this helps.

Dave
anney
18 years ago
I suspect it's sunscald, too, since I can't see any aphids! But you do need to check for them on the undersides of the leaves. And move the earthbox into some dappled shade.

What varieties of tomatoes do you have in that container? I see some potato leafs and some regular leafs, and I absolutely agree that you can't grow them all in that one earthbox, though maybe you planned to transplant them.

Anyway, it doesn't look like a leaf problem that's fatal, aphids or sunburn. There are cures for both!
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rnewste
Original Author
18 years ago
Dave,

Thanks very much!! You may have hit it on the head - - I have had a "cold frame" cover on the seedlings for one week since planting them outside in their "temporary" home, but then took it off 2 days ago, and they have been in the full sun since then. So I will put the cold frame back on immediately to see if this helps solve the spotting. BTW, there are no aphids at all on the plant.

Another issue: some of the leaves at their stem area have turned yellow. I have not put any fertilizer in the Earthbox, other than mixing in some Dolomite.

Thanks again,

Raybo

{{gwi:43624}}

In a week or so, they are going in their individual EarthTainers:

{{gwi:1298740}}
rnewste
Original Author
18 years ago
anney,

Thanks for also confirming it "may" be too much direct sun exposure.

Regarding varieties, I am growing 27 varieties with duplicate plants that will go into 27 EarthTainers.

RayÂs 2008 TOMATO LIST (and "priority" placement ranking in my garden)

JDÂs Special C Tex (1)
Purple Haze (2)
EarlÂs Faux (3)
MariannaÂs Peace (4)
EdÂs Millennium (5)
Cherokee Purple (6)
Stump of the World (7)
Paul Robeson (8)
Brandywine Sudduth (9)
PrudenÂs Purple (10)
1884 Purple (11)
SunsetÂs Red Horizon (Rostova) (12)
Neves Azorean Red (13)
Cherokee Chocolate (14)
Berkeley Tie-Dye (15)
Isis Brandy (16)
Stupice (17)
Wes (18)
Dona (19)
Eva Purple Ball (20)
Druzba (21)
Bloody Butcher (22)
Bush Beefsteak (23)
New Big Dwarf (24)
Coustralee (25)
Carmello (26)
Kimberly (27)

{{gwi:1292337}}

Raybo