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Growing Tomatoes

Help...I think my tomatoes are in trouble (pics)

15 years ago

I posted a message a few days ago about my tomato plant stems blistering and am grateful for the responses. However, the lower leaves on my tomato plants are turning yellow and dropping off. The problem started when I repotted about two weeks ago and i put the plants in Miracle Grow organic potting mix. I'm not overwatering and I have not put the plants outdoors yet. Nor have I fertilized with anything yet. Could this condition have resulted from a fungus or virus? Please help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pics of tomato plants

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Comments (4)

anney
15 years ago
GM

At the bottom is catman's discussion about Miracle Grow Organic. If you check out the search function, you'll see that its use is very controversial.

You really need to get those plants in a deeper container!

Here is a link that might be useful: Catman -- I hate MG Organic Choice potting mix...
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tn_veggie_gardner
15 years ago
Yea, that's my diagnosis too. If those were in 16 oz cups, they'd have roots all over the sides. Transplant right away & give a 1/2 strength diluted MG Tomato food to them right afterwards. They'll reroot over a few dys to a week then take off again & your problems may just all solve themselves.
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catman529
15 years ago
I had to re-pot 30 seedlings and replace their soil with all regular MG potting mix to get rid of the organic choice stuff. It was nerve-racking but now the plants are growing very well and are healthy and green.
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HoosierCheroKee
15 years ago
Everything I see in those pictures says to me "minor nutrient deficiency, particularly insufficient nitrogen, and low light, combining to cause low level of photosynthesis."

If you plan to keep those plants indoors much longer, pot them up in a larger container so you can bury the stems a little ... but not so deep that the root wad is at the bottom of the container 'cuz you'll drown the roots. Choose a tall container.

Feed the plants after potting up. Use something balance. Those plants need nitrogen and potassium for sure. The main stems are too spindly and hard looking ... need to be stockier, plumper, etc.

And then harden the plants off, if they've not already got that treatment, so you can eventually expose them to some real sunlight. They need some sun ... but not all at once ... and some fresh outdoors air.

I'm not a real fan of "potting mix" for starting and holding young transplants. Maybe when they get outside in large growing containers. But while they're still in starter cups they should be in starter mix ... nice and fluffy with plenty of aeration for the roots. And I think Miracle-Gro potting mixes are just too damned fancy for tomatoes anyway. You need something soilless and well drained and without all that BS additive moisture retention crud in it. Just my opinions.
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