Non-Ripening Early Girl Tomatoes

16 years ago

I have an Early Girl tomato plant that is in a pot on my porch. When we first potted it, it grew tall and fast. Now it has fruit and the fruit is not ripening and the leaves are turning yellow from the bottom of the plant up. I cut off the leaves when they turn yellow (not sure if I should be doing this). New leaves are growing from the bottom of the plant, but not at the rate the others are turning yellow. The plant gets about 4 hours of direct sunlight. I water the plant everyday (about a gallon). The pot the plant is in is a 20 gallon pot. I have oregano, basil, cilantro and chrysanthemum flowers growing around the base of the plant. Does my plant have a disease? Am I over watering it? Is it getting enough sun? Are the other plants killing my tomato plant? Please help!

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Comments (4)

orangedragonfly
16 years ago
how much/often do you water? are you fertilizing?
click on this
http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/tomatoproblemsolver/index.html , it should help you figure out what could be the problem. when did you first start getting fruit? They could just not be ready yet. I put my toms in the ground mid May and mine are just starting to turn.

Here is a link that might be useful: tomato problem solver
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digdirt2
16 years ago
Sounds as if your planter is over crowded and it definitely isn't getting enough sun - 6 hours minimum of good direct sun for tomatoes.

As to water, I'd say it isn't getting enough. All those plants are competing for the 1 gallon of water and that isn't enough for a 20 gallon container. It is best to water it deeply and thoroughly LESS often (till water runs out of the base of the planter) rather than in little bits of water daily. Shallow daily waterings promote shallow surface roots and that's where your yellowing leaves are coming from. If it is really hot you may still have to water daily but water till it comes out the bottom. And mulch the soil well around the plants to help retain moisture.

All those plants in there are also competing for nutrients and it needs feeding. I'd remove the herbs as they won't like the amount of fertilizer the tomato plant needs but it's up to you. Liquid fertilizer of your choice used at 1/2 strength of the label directions once a week works good for container plants.

Lastly, check the bottoms of all your existing fruit for blossom end rot - common in a stressed plant - and if any have it pitch them so the plant won't be wasting energy it needs to recover trying to ripen them.

Hope this helps. Good luck! ;)

Dave
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garthia
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you for your help. I have watered it quite a bit (so the water comes out the bottom). I wish i could have the plant get more sunlight but what is has is all it can get. Hopefully the extra watering will help????
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digdirt2
16 years ago
Since it is in a container, can't it be moved to a place that gets more sun? 6 hours really is the minimum requirement. I can guarantee you will get more tomatoes and they will ripen much quicker if you move it. ;)

Good luck.

Dave
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