Why don't you take or send a sample to the local extension office and have it analyzed? You could visit neighbors, if it is herbicide damage and ask them not to spray when the wind is blowing. I think it may even be illegal to spray when the wind is blowing. These are common instructions listed on many labels.

"It is a violation of Federal Law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling"

"Read all directions for use carefully before applying"

"Do not apply this product in a way that will contact workers or other persons, either directly or through
drift"

I wouldn't give up but I don't have much invested either.

Sounds very frustrating. I can understand throwing in the towel. I would definitely have my soil AND water tested. What about trying something in a container. Check out the container gardening forum. I have to grow my tomatoes in containers due to bad drainage.

I am so sorry to hear that! I hope you will have better luck next time you try. It must be so hard to give up on your months of hard work. I am not so sure if you would like to get any more advice after what you have been thru for the last three years but it may help.

I was reading Charles Wilber's "world record tomatoes". He was very careful about the diseases. If I am correct;
-don't plant the tomatoes at the same location more than three years in a row.(changing location every year is the best)
-use bleach or torch to clean up your cages beginning of the season.
-When you pick some leaves or prune the tomatoes place them in a plastic bags, tie them up and discharge. Don't use it for compost or nearby your plants.

you may still try to buy 1-2 plants from Lowes and raised them in pots (with new soil) in a different area of the garden to see if that happens again.
(hopefully not)

I am really sorry for your experience, and wish you the best,

For those of you who haven't seen the original thread, it's here
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tomato/msg0313595930821.html?27

Here is a link that might be useful: original thread

Thanks for the link Jean. Had no idea what we were talking about.

Plants in all those photos look pretty good to me. Leaves get distorted from all sorts of things, perfection doesn't exist in anyone's garden, herbicides are a fact of life but you can protect against them in many ways and usually the plant outgrows it anyway unless it is direct contact. And no, herbicides do NOT contaminate the fruit.

No idea where the OP lives as that info isn't provided so do we even know if CMV is even common in that area? And even if it is it can be prevented in large part.

Hate to see anyone throw in the towel but with such good looking healthy plants?

Dave

As much as I want your seeds, I have to ask you to reconsider.

I looked at your pictures and thought, "that's nothing! Mine have been much worse and still seem to come through OK."

I would just try it next year without the manure and go with compost made from plant material only. It wasn't until I posted here that I found out how often manure is contaminated with herbicide. (I'm testing mine now by planting beans in it to see if they are affected.)

Also, like someone else mentioned, try a few in containers to see if it makes a difference. It's not a big deal to make a SWC out of couple of 5-gallon buckets.

I would do what you want to do. Frustration is key one for me with my garden. I have a true, love-hate relationship with my plants. I mean, I have literally thrown a fit in the open for everyone to see because of neighbors not watching their dogs. It sounds like you care man, so I say,although I do not know you at all, to stick with it.

Your last post suggests frustration coming through love.

BVG,

All the positive feedback is there. If you have stuck with gardening this long you find it cathartic to your being. Try controlling more of the plants environment for example growing your plants in a small climate controlled greenhouse or sheltered area. My plants look similar to yours and there doing fine in a Earthtainer. What I am worried about are the dreaded hornworms that nailed me last year. I will be ready for them this year. Aloha

Jay,
Have you always used Oak leaves for mulch? I was under the impression that they made the soil way to ascidic, making it not a suitable mulch (unless composted for a year). I noticed that what changed and when you noticed the problem were only 2 ingredients, did you have theese tested? If it did contminate the soil, wouldnt growing a cover crop for a year or 2 remove the contaminents to the point that they are more dilluted? (in that let it grow , then mow then remove all together to a spot where it could compost for a few years) the more you grow and remove the less contaminents left in the soil. I hope I explained this properly.

Yeah, yeah I've heard that before :) Well, seriously right now you're feeling bad about all your hard work being ruined. I understand. My tomatoes are also experiencing a virus leaf curl problem. It is heart breaking. When some time goes by you will be back at it again. The trick is to grow a lot of stuff so that when one thing fails miserably (as it always will) something else is there to cheer you up. I will take those seeds though if you really follow through with your threats :)

You are so clearly among gardners who understand your frustration. Sometimes it helps just to vent and I hope that will be the case with you. It is Spring afterall, and the miracle of life and growth is still out there, even if elusive at times...Linda

Jay I posted a reply to your post on another forum. As I stated I've experienced the same issues and feel you are on the right track as far as diagnosis. Fortunately so far mine has never been every plant but due to that and a few other mainly insect born diseases 2 years ago I lost 50% of a 100 plants. After you have the time and money in them it is frustrating. Diagnosis has confirmed some of the issues here. Jay

Hi folks...thanks so much for the continued support and feedback.

I must tell you, my dear wife who is not in to gardening at all like I am basically convinced me not to give in just yet. There is yet another option of which I do not look forward to which involves clearing trees and constructing greenhouses....I just don't know where I'm going to find the energy for all that (lol).

gardenman, yes I have always pretty much used oak leaves for mulch. I've not had any of the ingredients tested but I am near 100% certain that the Black Kow is free of herbicide. A few of my container plants which had Black Kow mixed in were inside my little greenhouse for around 3 weeks and they were fine but when I placed them outside it only took about four or five days to exhibit the leaf distortions.

However it plays out this spring, I'm not going to pull any plants. I planned on letting things continue so that I can see the end results. And there are some positives going on. The plants continue to grow and set fruit at an excellent rate with some plants approaching 4 feet tall. And don't hold me to this, but I must confess that it does appear that some new foliage has developed without the distortions.

Fingers crossed....

Jay

Jay, Your description sounds like curly top which is spread by the beet leafhopper. There are some genetics floating around for tolerance. I first read about it in OG back in the late 1980's. Do some delving and you can probably find something still available.

DarJones