Tomatoes not growing tall, what is their issue?

10 years ago

Hi,

This is my first year trying to grow tomatoes. I'm in Los Angeles, Zone 10. I bought 3 varieties from Tomatomania back in March: Better Boy, Beefsteak, and Sweet Tangerine. Two of them are growing in 20 gallon pots and the third is in a slightly smaller one. Several weeks ago after a week straight of rain and overcast weather, I noticed that the tomatoes had developed some sort of blight (I'm not sure if it's disease, aphids, or what). I've since treated them with (spray) Serenade, Safer Insect killing soap, and one soil treatment of Actinovate. They've since started to bear some fruit, but they are very short plants for what I understand tomatoes to be, especially this far along. I just pruned them a bit, hoping that will help. Whatever is happening to the tomatoes seems to also be happening to some dahlia plants in the front yard, too. Does anyone know what is attacking my plants? Any advice to help the tomatoes to recover? I feel like I'm just managing the problem and not curing it.

Thanks,

Amanda

Featured Answer

digdirt2

10 years ago

Dr. Earth makes lots of products so which one. And they are all organic. Great for gardens, not so great for containers unless you turn them into liquids first. Mixed into the soil means dry granular stuff, right?

I assume you understand that dry granular organic fertilizers only work when there is an active soil food web of bacteria and soil residents to digest them so the plants can use the nutrients produced? No soil food web exists in containers. Liquid organics are used in containers as they are already emulsified and readily available to plants.

And if you are going to water that often, if the plants actually need it that often, then your nutrients are going to drain right out with the water so they will have to be replaced regularly every 7-10 days. So first you water the plant well, deep enough so that water runs out the bottom and then you mix up your liquid fert and feed it to them.

If you haven't done so you might want to do some reading over on the Gardening in Containers forum. Container growing is a whole different ballgame.

Dave

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Comments (6)

drmbear
10 years ago
Some of the damage you have could be slugs - they come out at night to chomp, then go back into hiding.
digdirt2
10 years ago
You don't mention what or how much you have fed them or what your watering regimen is. Both those factors contribute to he stunted growth you are seeing.

Stunted plants are heavily stressed for some reason so you have to find out what has caused all the stress and eliminate it. But at this stage of growth, stunting may not be reversible.

The pest issue isn't the primary concern. True it needs to be explored and eliminated if possible but only you can do the hands on search needed. But plants can lose more than 50% of their leaf surface and still do fine. Yours have plenty of leaves but the pests are drawn to stressed plants.

Dave
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ajohns366
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks, guys! I'm watering every other day about and have fertilized 3 times since March. I guess I could stand to add more! I appreciate the help.
ajohns366
Original Author
10 years ago
I have been using Dr. Earth and G&B fertilizers, both mixed into the soil.
ajohns366
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you, Dave, that's really helpful advice. I'll do that from now on, and check out that forum.