I can't say I'd be surprised. I moved recently to a windy suburb of OKC and I doubt the lawn care crews around here are much concerned with the condition of my tomatoes. It would also explain a few other things around here, as the poor peas are stunted and suffering for no apparent reason, and the peppers' and potatoes' new growth is distorted or cupped, with hooked tips. All of this I'd simply attributed to aphids.

Would you prune off the distorted growth, or just let it ride? They're showing some signs of life at the suckers so I think they'll bounce back either way. I'm gardening on a tight budget this year, so if I can nurse them through it and not have to replace 'em, I'll do that.

Thanks for your time!

Yeah, I'd try to rehab, nothing to lose. Are they going to stop spraying? The problem might just continue though.

I see in the last picture, your seedlings still in cold drink cups.
How did they get herbicide draft ? were they outside in the yard in that stage ? I am asking this because the have the signs of the same symptom while in the cup.

Sey

It does look like herbacide drift, most of them should bounce back, unless they keep spraying. I've never had to trim off growth, and would not want them exposed to infection while in that state.

Try to keep this in mind for next season, your starts may need to be sheltered for a longer time, and planted out a couple of weeks later, hopefully after lawn weed-and-feed season has passed.

Good luck either way.

Steve

You can trim off the worst of the damaged branches back to about 1/2" from the main stem if you wish but it isn't necessary. It is one way to help monitor for new exposure and hopefully put an end to that. And if they are indeterminate variety plants new growth will usually develop from the node below the cut. If they are determinate varieties I'd just leave it or only trim the tips of the leaf branches.

Given the sun exposure in all the photos I am assuming all these plants are outside, even the ones in the cups. If that isn't the case then you need to look for additional causes on the inside plants. Aphids can cause a similar appearance on inside plants but usually not this severe.

Dave

Just curious, what potting soil are you using?

This could be due to contaminated organic matter and that includes compost, manures, and potting mix.

See this info: contaminated OM: effects & bio-assay

IMO, herbicide drift is not conclusive.
OP mentioned severe aphids infestation, also affecting potatoes..etc.. Then, who would use herbicide so early in the season with lots of rain ?(as OP stated).
Cara has raised an interesting question:
How about the potting soil being contaminated ?
That remains as anther possibility too.
So here are 3 possibilities:

1. Aphids

2. Herbicide Drift

3. contaminated potting soil

JMO

Sey

"Then, who would use herbicide so early in the season with lots of rain ?(as OP stated)."

It's not early for herbicide applications. Right now in my yard the dandelions and violets are blooming, thistles are sprouting new shoots that I keep hoeing off, creeping charlie is trying to take over the world, and there is the chickweed and many other weeds that I don't know the names of that are growing. And the OP is in a warmer area than I am so they've probably had weeds growing for at least a few weeks earlier. Doesn't make sense to apply herbicides with rain but most lawn care companies don't really care about that they just want to get it done.

Not saying for sure that it is herbicide drift but the possibility is there especially since it looks like the OP's plants are outside.

Rodney

Doing a bio-assay will resolve the question of where the herbicide came from.

<So here are 3 possibilities:

Aphids, Herbicide Drift, contaminated potting soil>

Aphids infestation would have to be so severe as to be terminal to cause this much obvious damage. The plants would be literally crawling with them. Yet even when you blow the pics up there are no signs of any aphids. So could it be aphids? Possibly but you sure should be able to see them.

Contaminated potting soil damage would have shown up MUCH earlier in the plants growth cycle I think. There would be no normal growth on the plants as is shown in the pics except maybe the first one. Plants don't grow normally in contaminated mix and then just suddenly go all wonky.

Dave

It would have just shown up if potted up with a new bag.

I asked since I had some tomatoes I potted up in Miracle Gro's Nature's Care organic line, and I believe the soil had herbicide contamination. My tomatoes looked like her pictures. This was entirely indoors and the tomatoes that were not potted in that soil did not have the problem.

I also then made the mistake of not cleaning my trays and wasn't paying attention to the ones that I had used when potting up the ones that I believe were in contaminated, and just grabbed a tray for some new seedlings. The tray had some potting soil in the bottom ridges. The seedlings in that tray all showed the same signs. Toms in a different tray directly next to them nothing. Moved these guys to a clean tray, but damage was done. And I get to wear a dunce cap for being lazy and not cleaning my trays.

jean001a(Portland OR 7b)

Doing a bio-assay will resolve the question of where the herbicide came from.

8888***********************88888

EXACTLY. Where did it come from ?

It is not established that herbicide was used, yet.
Did OP apply herbicide in his property ?

Did OP see a neighbor's property being treated with herbicide ?

Also the potting soil is not cleared up yet.

Where is Megen ? HMMM.

Sey