My tomato plants are dying

2 years ago

I have two cherry tomato palnts in a 2ftx4ft and 18" tall. I have Miracle Grow raised bed mix for the dirt. The plants are about 2 months old and the first couple tomatoes are ripening. The tops are amazingly healthy and the plants are growing crazy fast. I use micracle grow tomato water solution about once every two weeks and water every morning and evening with enough water to see some water drainage from the raised bed. I ensure the top two inches are damp using the finger test. I do a hand applied mist spray from my water sprayer every couple evenings just to ensure it isn't a dry leaf problem but all the leaves look great until the dead zone rises up to their level.

However, all the bottom leaves and branches started dying about a month ago and has the dying has slowly been working its way up the bush over the last month. The death area has finally reached the height of the tomatoes and the branches holding the tomatoes are wilting and dying.

There are the occasional small ant but the leaves and tomatoes are undamaged by bugs or ants. I dug some of the dirt and there are no pests in the dirt and the raised beds protect from ground pests. I live in Hawaii and it is currently June but tomatoes (and everything else) grow year-round here. Looking for suggestions.

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Comments (5)

outpaientzero
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
You have an issue with your fertilizer, miracle grow is good stuff but incomplete and lacking a couple of critical fertilizer because of necessity. There is no Calcium and very very little magnesium in the fertilizer that are 4th and 5th fertilizer behind nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus by weight. They were left out because they can not be mixed together in water with phosphorus, it's something they should put on the front label to warn people about. Big Failure IMO.

So your tomato plants have a magnesium deficiency and likely a calcium deficiency. In the morning run to the store and find a calcium/magnesium supplement and start feeding it to your plants ASAP. The package will say CAL - MAG on the package.

Edit. I just noticed you live in Hawaii, your plants will grow for a could years and could easily get 50 feet long if you can keep them fed and supported, your going to have fun Haole.
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klem1
2 years ago
It's generally recommended to avoid wetting leaves while watering tomatoes because it can promote disease. Do your own research and I think you will find intentionally wetting leaves is a bad idea.
royalcw thanked klem1
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woodrose77
2 years ago
It sounds like you may be over watering your plants, and perhaps over feeding.
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callirhoe123
2 years ago
Sounds like over watering to me, too. And agree with Klem--don't wet the leaves.
royalcw thanked callirhoe123
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Tomatoes need to dry out sometimes, keeping them constantly moist may be your problem. It can also affect flavor, I believe.

I keep mine mulched thickly with hay to help keep soil from splashing on the plants - it also helps regulate soil moisture, so they don't need constant watering.

The lower branches on my plants die off as they grow. If the tops are healthy, it shouldn't be a problem. I simply remove the dead stuff. I don't remove suckers either - the more branches, the better, IMPE.