Where are you in Florida?

The sun is brutal here. Maybe offer some dappled shade during the hottest time of the day. I have neighbors who use patio umbrellas!

Jane

I'm in the northwest corner pensacola to be exact. I reposted this to get more help specifically from Florida growers. Here's the original post

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3849816/m=23/whats-wrong-wilted-plants

Thanks

What did you grow in that spot last year and the years past ? Be careful planting tomatoes and eggplants in the same spots year after year as specific diseases can build up in the root zone .

Many Fl gardeners dont grow Tomatoes in the ground because of nematodes , so how have you amended your soil ? More compost and EWC = less nematodes ...

My first year gardening there, I had a compost bin I built 5 years ago, finally got around to using the compost in it. It also has some regular topsoil and cow manure. I definitely think it is something attacking the roots, cause I don't see anything wrong with any of my other plants. I'm tempted to dig one up to see if anything is wrong with the root system. I have seen a couple of flea beetles and they are only in that bed. Beside looking a little sad, they are flowering and I see tomatoes forming, so I don't know.

Kevin

I was away when you posted this question, how are your plants doing? are they better now and producing? do you know the varieties? If you grew them from seed, did you harden them properly?

A lot of my tomatoes are ripening and it is a good season for me even that I was away for picking, few of my big oxheart tomatoes were actually over ripe and I have one mystery variety that I did not plant and came mix in the commercial packet.

Silvia

I'm still having issues with that particular bed of tomatos. Today, I noticed some more flea beetles, plus some little tiny worms eating some bottom leaves. I also think the one plant is experiencing some blossom drop. I can't seem to figure it out. All of my other tomato plants are doing just fine and thriving. Most of my plants are setting fruit. I have been able to group my plants, by ones that look alike, but still don't know the varieties yet. I should be able to figure it out soon, by way of tomato size and how early some are fruiting. Even if that one bed doesn't do well, if everything else stays the same, I should have nice tomatos.

Here are some of the plants fruiting

These are the worms I'm finding on a couple tomato plants. I only notice them because of a lil bit of leaf damage. I've been hand picking them at night, when they seem active.

This is the tomato plant I suspect of blossom drop?

The part right next to the stem is where flowers were, but they fell right off at the base of the flower, different from when the flower falls from the fruit. Anyways, any advice or input?

Kevin, if I was you I would spray something organic for the caterpillars, otherwise they are going to weaken the plant, Spinosad or the more available Thuricide.

Your tomatoes look good some varieties are earlier than others and sometimes the big varieties have trouble getting fruit set with the heat, it is very warm already. Hopefully we get some cool nights. Also some varieties have different sort of wispy leaves and that is normal. Since it is your first garden, you are kind of safe from a nematode attack, they usually show up after you been gardening for a while in the same spot. You are being watchful with your plants and that is important, hope that you get a nice harvest for your efforts.

Silvia

I've been using Captain Jacks deadbug brew and have gotten some results, also I've been using DE. Like I said I don't have a infestation, just a couple here and there. I've been paying close attention and trying to learn more and more.