Q. At the nursery I purchased some heirloom tomatoes.
They got silvery/shiny areas on back of leaves which turned into dry dead
spots. The plant is also dropping
blossoms what is this? I applied fungicide but do not know if this is
appropriate. My homegrown tomato plants do not have this. Please let me
know. I do not want my other tomato
plants infected.
They got silvery/shiny areas on back of leaves which turned into dry dead
spots. The plant is also dropping
blossoms what is this? I applied fungicide but do not know if this is
appropriate. My homegrown tomato plants do not have this. Please let me
know. I do not want my other tomato
plants infected.
A. You have noticed something that I have been talkingabout. This is concerning the quality of homegrown vegetable transplants being
superior to the transplants grown by commercial growers for the mass markets.
To get
transplants ready for markets growers usually have to grow transplants in some
sort of protected culture such as greenhouses, cold frames, hot frames or
hoophouses. When grown for mass markets the grower has to produce transplants
at the lowest cost possible to improve profit margins.
transplants ready for markets growers usually have to grow transplants in some
sort of protected culture such as greenhouses, cold frames, hot frames or
hoophouses. When grown for mass markets the grower has to produce transplants
at the lowest cost possible to improve profit margins.
This may
mean that in many cases these transplants may not be grown under the cleanest
conditions and the growing conditions also may not be the best. This means that
mass market transplants can be very subject to earlier development of diseases
and insect problems.
mean that in many cases these transplants may not be grown under the cleanest
conditions and the growing conditions also may not be the best. This means that
mass market transplants can be very subject to earlier development of diseases
and insect problems.
When you
grow transplants at home you can afford to start with cleaner materials and as
a consequence have fewer insects and diseases to contend with. You can also get
the exact variety you want by ordering the seed ahead of time.
grow transplants at home you can afford to start with cleaner materials and as
a consequence have fewer insects and diseases to contend with. You can also get
the exact variety you want by ordering the seed ahead of time.
Sometimes
the commercial grower will apply pesticides just before shipping transplants to
the nursery to remove any pest problems that might be developing, pests that
may already be there and make sure they are pest free when delivered to the
nursery.
the commercial grower will apply pesticides just before shipping transplants to
the nursery to remove any pest problems that might be developing, pests that
may already be there and make sure they are pest free when delivered to the
nursery.
Several
problems can cause silvery discoloration to the leaves including the natural
silvery-green color of some tomato plants. These dead spots may or may not be
related to the grey green color of the leaves. The brown spots could be due to
feeding damage by insects or a disease problem. It is hard to say exactly
without seeing a fresh plant sample with the disease present or several
high-quality pictures.
problems can cause silvery discoloration to the leaves including the natural
silvery-green color of some tomato plants. These dead spots may or may not be
related to the grey green color of the leaves. The brown spots could be due to
feeding damage by insects or a disease problem. It is hard to say exactly
without seeing a fresh plant sample with the disease present or several
high-quality pictures.
As far
as blossom drop on tomatoes remember that they are finicky. Temperatures to
high during the day, too low at night, and irrigation which is missed, an
unusually hot day when temperatures abnormally been cool, all can play a role.
Tomatoes grown excluding bees for pollination may cause the flowers to abort.
as blossom drop on tomatoes remember that they are finicky. Temperatures to
high during the day, too low at night, and irrigation which is missed, an
unusually hot day when temperatures abnormally been cool, all can play a role.
Tomatoes grown excluding bees for pollination may cause the flowers to abort.
If you
are worried about a lack of bees then use your electric toothbrush to vibrate
the plant for better fruit set. Touching the electric vibrating toothbrush to
portions of the plants close to the flowers for a few seconds may improve fruit
set if bees are limited.
are worried about a lack of bees then use your electric toothbrush to vibrate
the plant for better fruit set. Touching the electric vibrating toothbrush to
portions of the plants close to the flowers for a few seconds may improve fruit
set if bees are limited.
I would
suggest you consider applying some preventive sprays to transplants brought
into the garden from a nursery or garden center. This is seldom needed for
homegrown transplants or from commercial growers who maintain clean facilities
and planting material. Sprays would include insecticidal soap applications
every few days, spraying Neem oil and some other organic sprays specifically for
vegetables.
suggest you consider applying some preventive sprays to transplants brought
into the garden from a nursery or garden center. This is seldom needed for
homegrown transplants or from commercial growers who maintain clean facilities
and planting material. Sprays would include insecticidal soap applications
every few days, spraying Neem oil and some other organic sprays specifically for
vegetables.
In the
future I would recommend growing your own transplants if you can and you will
see fewer problems like you are mentioning. Local producers of vegetable
transplants can be found and are usually higher priced but cleaner with fewer
pest problems.
future I would recommend growing your own transplants if you can and you will
see fewer problems like you are mentioning. Local producers of vegetable
transplants can be found and are usually higher priced but cleaner with fewer
pest problems.