Strange Combination of Tomato Problems!!

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Three years ago I had the most amazing tomato-seedling season ever. My plants looked awesome and I had no problems. Last year, one or two varieties got a strange disease and died and I called it off as bad luck. This year, the problem seams much worse...

Like, looking at the pictures now, they don't look terrible, but they are definitely not thriving. The most concerning problem is that they are dropping their first leaves and their COT leaves. They ARE growing, but the older leaves are purple and look like they have Edema.... I pruned off the damaged leaves (they were falling off anyways), and they look a little better. I don't know if you can see, but some of the plants seem stunted with white lesions on their stems and leaves.

The temps are consistent, no fungus gnat problems, I use a 1/2 strength fertilizer on a regular basis, and water from the bottom (letting them dry out between watering). UHHH. I'm stumped. Does anything jump out at you from these pics? So far i'm thinking maybe it's air circulation and maybe light intensity (not strong enough?)... could that do it? I'm using a mix of LEDs and Florescents, but plants from under both lights seem affected.

Any help is appreciated!

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Comments (6)

User
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
One variety of mine looked like this and I found aphids on the leaves. Wasn't a big infestation, just one or two per plant but enough to wilt the leaves and they were slightly purple on the underside. I didn't want to use chemicals so several times per day I lightly rub flick the leaves and the aphids fall off. The plants look better... Light spray of water will knock the aphids off as well... The aphids on my plants are green and tiny...very difficult to see.

edited to add... mine were growing as well despite the aphids but it was mostly stem height.
Labradors
7 years ago
They do look extremely dry, but they don't look that bad to me.

The thing that jumps out at me is that you have had this problem for two years running, yet the first year they grew well. I would blame the potting mix. Could it be that you stored it wet and it allowed some "nasties" to take hold, or did you buy it new, two years ago?

Are the pots new, or did you wash out thoroughly with soap and water plus a little bleach? Diseases can lurk in unwashed pots.

It might be a good idea to buy some good potting mix and transplant them now if you are concerned that they will not thrive.
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nanelle_gw (usda 9/Sunset 14)
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Can you describe your seedling set up? These seedlings are in single cups, filled with potting or seed starting mix, and with several holes in the bottom of the cups? Did you water from the top for a bit? Maybe the water isn't wicking up to where the roots are.
party_music50
7 years ago
The plants / soil in the pics look extremely dry! In the 3 plants shown their cotyledons are evident well above the soil line, so I don't know why you say they were dropped along with lower leaves. I'd plant them deeper and water them!
Sacha Bays
Original Author
7 years ago
Hmmm, Haha the tthree pics I showed do have all their cotyledons, but many lost them. I always bottom water, and their roots should be at the bottom of the solo cups.

When I start them originally, they are in small cells, then I transplant them to individual cups.

I did think about the seed mix, I used a mix, and it was Very hydrophobic. Usually I use a coir mix, but this year I thought I'd mix things up. Apparently it was a mistake.

I've lost about 2/3 of my plants so far. Some are growing, some are stunted and shrivelled. I do not think I am underwatering...

BAMBOOZLING
party_music50
7 years ago
I do.