My tomatoes are dying :(

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

They started off really nicely, I started them indoors, hardened them and transplanted them.

I have been producing my vermicompost and have fed my plants with some compost when I transplanted them and a little on the surface after 2 weeks and my own brewed compost tea.

They grew for 2 weeks outdoors then they started turning yellow, its the third week not and they haven't been growing just turning yellow. We had a bit of rain recently. I used to move them under a shed when it rained, however they might have gotten a bit of shower when I was not around home.

I noticed a bit of rotting on the crown, I thought maybe it was due to the rain, and added some potting soil there so that the area grows some root.

Sun has been showing up for couple of hours(3-4) these days, due to heavy clouds.Temps are around 30C.

(Pusarubi Tomato Variety)

Also, my chilly has been facing some problems as well, the leaves have yellow spots and they are turning. attaching a picture below.

Any help would really be appreciated.

- New Delhi, India

Featured Answer

PupillaCharites

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

Agreed, the problem is likely in the soil you are using. For the first 5 weeks stage the plants are vulnerable to disease when you use contaminated soil. The soil should be lighter/aerated, otherwise it will retain water and not allow for healthy root growth, which will quickly be attacked by pathogens (fungi) in the soil. Your soil has with weeds, so clearly is not sterile. The weeds have different soil requirements and may grow well but not the tomato or pepper.

Try to sterilize your soil in boiling water next time for at least a 5 minute boil. Get some rice hulls (waste from rice), reboil them and mix them 1/2 hulls with 1/2 soil well mixed with clean hands (not after touching other vegetables). ThAt is a better soil. Substitute the hulls with coconut husk coir for better results and as you know, water more carefully not drowning the roots. Good luck!

cheers

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Comments (10)

Rishabh Sood
Original Author
11 years ago
Anyone?
lindalana 5b Chicago
11 years ago
What did you make your potting mix with? Is this something you always do and have good results with?
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daniel_nyc
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
How big are those pots ?

Can we see pictures of the pots ?

Did you ever fungicide ?
Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
11 years ago
BAD potting soil sticks out. There could be other causes too.

For better results ONLY use SOIL LESS potting mix in pots/small containers.

Why garden soil is not good ?

Because (depending on the kind) it can get soggy, stay wet loger, gets compacted , deprives the roots from oxygen.

Sey
donna_in_sask
11 years ago
^I agree, use good quality soil and fill it to the top. There is a huge amount of space for roots that is not being utilized.
lindalana 5b Chicago
11 years ago
what kind of potting mixes you have in India?
Rishabh Sood
Original Author
11 years ago
I've been using dug out(10ft) soil from our garden. We dont have stores here where we can go pick good quality potting mix. We mostly have garden soil here. How can I make use of it? will boiling and adding oraganic material plus saw dust etc help?

Also, is there a way I can save my current tomatoes and chillies by repotting them?
PupillaCharites
11 years ago
Try to sterilize your soil in boiling water next time for at least a 5
minute boil. Get some rice hulls (waste from rice), reboil them and mix
them 1/2 hulls with 1/2 soil well mixed with clean hands (not after
touching other vegetables). That is a better soil mix. Substitute the hulls
with coconut husk coir for better results and as you know, water more
carefully and less often not drowning the roots. Care with husk/soil mixtures, as they require less watering and pots must be well drained.

Good luck!

cheers

PC
digdirt2
11 years ago
Agree with PC - rice hulls will work well to improve the texture but so will any decomposed organic matter you can mix in with it. The basic problem is that when you put garden soil into a container it compacts, it drains poorly, and in the process suffocates the roots leading to root rot. So anything you can do to loosen/lighten up its texture, allow more air into the mix, and improve the drainage of the soil will help. Even things like coarse sand and finely chopped dead leaves can help. Try to make the mixture as diverse as you can to avoid inadvertently creating nutrient issues.

Since you compost and vermicompost you can use compost teas if nothing else is available to feed them.

Dave