Q. I have six tomato plants grown from seed, all
indeterminate. They were growing in two-year-old, rich soil mix containing
compost that produced a lot of tomatoes last year. The leaves of the tomato
plants developed okay but then they got spotty and dried up. No blossoms at
all. The leafy vegetables grew well but the older leaves at the bottom of
lettuce also developed black spots, became yellow and died.
indeterminate. They were growing in two-year-old, rich soil mix containing
compost that produced a lot of tomatoes last year. The leaves of the tomato
plants developed okay but then they got spotty and dried up. No blossoms at
all. The leafy vegetables grew well but the older leaves at the bottom of
lettuce also developed black spots, became yellow and died.
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| This gardener has been growing tomatoes this gardener has been growing tomatoes for over 30 years in the Las Vegas Valley. He seems to favor Celebrity but he grows them in the same spot year after year. We’ve got to learn to rotate vegetables so they are not grown in the same spot year after year. |
A. I looked at the pictures you sent. Tomato diseases are
tough to diagnose with pictures but I think this might be bacterial leaf spot.
I first got suspicious when you said you started these plants from seed. Then I
considered the wet, cool weather, which is perfect for this disease to develop,
and concluded it was probably bacterial leaf spot.
tough to diagnose with pictures but I think this might be bacterial leaf spot.
I first got suspicious when you said you started these plants from seed. Then I
considered the wet, cool weather, which is perfect for this disease to develop,
and concluded it was probably bacterial leaf spot.
Google some pictures of this
disease on tomato and lettuce and see if you think it looks like the same and
let me know. Leaf spot diseases such as bacterial leaf spot can occur on
lettuce as well.
disease on tomato and lettuce and see if you think it looks like the same and
let me know. Leaf spot diseases such as bacterial leaf spot can occur on
lettuce as well.
Leaf
spot diseases can infect the plant from seed contaminated with this disease
agent. Most seed will have this disease present so applying a hot water or
chlorine seed disinfection helps reduce this disease possibility. Methods for
doing this at home can be found on the Internet or I can forward instructions
to you.
spot diseases can infect the plant from seed contaminated with this disease
agent. Most seed will have this disease present so applying a hot water or
chlorine seed disinfection helps reduce this disease possibility. Methods for
doing this at home can be found on the Internet or I can forward instructions
to you.
Cool and
wet weather, perfect weather for this disease, promotes bacterial leaf spot if
it’s present. This disease can become a problem if the growing area has not
been cleaned up and old fruit and fines are present.
wet weather, perfect weather for this disease, promotes bacterial leaf spot if
it’s present. This disease can become a problem if the growing area has not
been cleaned up and old fruit and fines are present.
Also, don’t grow
vegetables in the same location year after year (implement crop rotation) to
reduce the possibility of this disease, and several others, from occurring.
Crop rotation can be as simple as not growing the same vegetable in the same
location in a raised bed year after year.
vegetables in the same location year after year (implement crop rotation) to
reduce the possibility of this disease, and several others, from occurring.
Crop rotation can be as simple as not growing the same vegetable in the same
location in a raised bed year after year.
Indeterminate
tomatoes have vines that keep getting longer and longer while determinate
tomatoes produce short vines and flower sooner. For earlier production of
tomatoes, choose determinate tomatoes rather than indeterminate ones.
tomatoes have vines that keep getting longer and longer while determinate
tomatoes produce short vines and flower sooner. For earlier production of
tomatoes, choose determinate tomatoes rather than indeterminate ones.
Determinate tomatoes are better for most home gardens in the hot desert anyway
because you want to produce tomatoes as quickly as possible. Hot weather can
come quickly and air temperatures above 95F can stop tomatoes from forming from
the flowers.
because you want to produce tomatoes as quickly as possible. Hot weather can
come quickly and air temperatures above 95F can stop tomatoes from forming from
the flowers.
If
you select indeterminate tomatoes, and then fertilize them with high nitrogen
fertilizers, the plants will grow beautifully but produce few flowers until
they get older. When growing indeterminate tomatoes, don’t fertilize plants
after planting until they begin to bear fruit.