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Growing Tomatoes

Something on my tomato plants (stems)

15 years ago

Hi,

Just went out to do my daily weeding - my neighbors have an oak tree in their back yard and I am forever pulling up those little seedling/noser things that sprout in my beds - and I noticed something on my tomato stems. they are little green things, about the size of a pin head. I tried to get a picture of one on the plant, which is virtually impossible with my dinky camera phone. I did remove one and tried to take a picture of it on my thumb. I have attached it...maybe someone can tell what it is?

More importantly, how do I get rid of it? I am taking my GS troop camping next week, leaving my precious garden in the hands of my DH who will be lucky if he remembers to water it (I have also left instructions with my neighbors as well!) - if this is some mutant bug that is going to destroy my crop, my poor DH will have no idea what to do while I'm gone. I'd like to take evasive actions NOW so I can go away in peace (but...how much peace can be had with a 4-day trip with 8th grade girls??)

Help???

Pam Brigandi

Havertown, PA

Here is a link that might be useful:

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Comments (4)

jtcm05
15 years ago
Aphids
pam225
Original Author
15 years ago
Just figured that out and was coming back to the forum to amend my post...so, is there a non-chemical way to remove them? I've really been trying to keep everything organic and using only organic material to fertilize (UCGs, compost, etc.)...

Yes, I am 2 years new to this, did not have any issues last year, and have no idea how to get rid of the pests.

Pam
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The picture is small amd rather hard to see, but I think I see a discoloration of the stem. I'm afraid to say I think the plant has stem or root rot. Jently squeeze the stem near the soil. If it's squishy that's what it is. There is no cure I'm afraid and pulling the plants and putting black plastic on the spot to sweat it out of the soil is your only option. If on the other hand I'm wrong and it's not squishy just eaten then I'd venture to say it was slugs and slug bait is in order
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tim45z10, it's not clear to me if the upper part of your Golden Jubilee was left, or if the critter took it away for his breakfast. If the stem was simply severed and the top was left on the ground, it was probably a cutworm. To keep that from happening when you plant tomatoes, you can wrap a piece of toilet-paper roll around the stem (under and above ground); some people use other things. Anyway, if you still have the upper part of the plant, you can stick the stem in the ground (deeper is better), water it well, and it should root. Maybe give it partial shade while it's recovering. You might get sprouts from the root ball too. If the critter took the top of the plant away for his breakfast ... well, IIRC people usually aren't certain which critter to blame. I grow in raised beds and haven't had that problem (yet).
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medical bandage or clothes pin. something with some flex. next year plant some bush cucumbers in the top of topsey junk.
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I have black on some leaves which I think is from a bad wind storm we had here (wind a hard rain mix) at least I hope it's from the wind/rain. The stems of my plants seem to be unaffected though. I've never seen what you describe and wonder if it could be coming up from the root. I'll google this and see what I come up with hopefully one of the pro's will post soon for you, good luck :)
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gobig_or_gohome_toms
15 years ago
If you do a search on here or google aphids there is allot of info out there. I got one infected plant as well and in doing my research there are beneficital incects you can add like Lady bugs that eat aphids. I went the incecticidle soap I think the name was concern or something like that but it was organic. I filled up a sprayer and sprayed the heck out of the under sides of the leaves and stems.

Note be sure to check there to as I had leaf curl and thought it was too much water and it ended up being aphids.
chinamigarden
15 years ago
Try washing them off with the garden hose. If that doesn't do the trick use insecticidyle soap.

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