Looks like the start of septoria leaf spot. This is really, really common. I get it every year. usually I just watch and remove any branch that starts to show the signs. You should get the diseased branches away from your garden (don't compost).

I generally get good harvests even though I fight a running battle with septoria.

THere is some info here: http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/2006/7-19/tomato.html

Thanks for replying sillius,

From the pictures it does look a little like that, thankyou !
I was wondering when you say you remove the branch that shows the signs. Do you mean that literally! or do you mean you remove the branch with leaves that are showing signs?. All my braches are ok at the moment.
Also does it effect the fruit? If not is it really worth buy a fungicide spray?
Thanks again

Regards Jim

I don't think Sillius means literally... it's any branches which leaves are showing sign.

As this, in addition to Early Blight, are both very very common... and both Fungal in nature, you can do as stated above for mild infections, but if it starts to get out of contral I would recommend a fungal spray (organic or inorganic). They tend to be fairly harmless to the bugs, and won't delay harvest time (generally) - they just try and get rid of the disease.

Jimmy, in what part of the UK are you living. I'm curious about your weather. I spent 3 years in East Anglia and that was cool and wet.

While the one spot I saw in the picture "could" be a fungal disease, I also know that wet leaf edges, areas where a water droplet can hang on, can display the same color pattern.

The posts above are still good advice. You need to acquire a good anti-fungus spray and use it regularly. If your problem is Bacterial Spec or Spot, then the symptoms will spread to all areas of the leaves, not just the edge, and will advance to all areas of the plant if left untreated.

And, yes, I raised tomatoes while I was over there.

Ted

Yes, I mean to ruthlessly clip at the base any branch that has infected leaves. The disease spreads from leaf to leaf, so infected leaves spread it upwards.

If your problem hasn't gotten too bad, I was able to remove just the leaves and even parts of leaves that were affected (sometimes it was just on the tip), especially if there were tiny, new leaves that were starting on the branch. Otherwise, I would just take off the stalk with the affected leaves, not a whole huge branch. I had a problem with this when my seedlings were about 8 weeks old, and saved them all by being pretty conservative with the clipping. Even now it's mainly my lower leaves that pick it up every now and again, and I just pick off those little branches.

Good luck!

Im in lincolnshire which is very close to east anglia. The weather here is very hot for the UK. 26-30C.
It wont be the rain droplets beacuse they have been stored in an enclosed shelter during the wet weather. But i have been spraying them with a mixture of washing up liquid and water to kill the green and black flie on them in an evening.
I was thinking it might be from scorching but there usually dry when the sun comes out.
Regarding the branching trimmng. If I am to trim all the diseased branches off im not gonna have many left on them at all ! ! ! There is probably only 5 or so branches on each. I'll end up with sticks :)
Ive included 2 other pictures a little different from the other.

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/7469/photo014iuq.jpg

Regards Jim

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1348757}}

Jimmy, I would advise two things.

Back off on the spray a bit. I don't know the makeup of your washing up liquid, but you may be too strong on your mixture. If you have a small vacuum cleaner, you can actually vacuum the flies off. I do some of my plants that way when the whitefly starts. This helps reduce the number of times I need to spray.

Don't trim off the leaves. With the kind of temperatures you're getting, some edge browning would not be unexpected. If you trim too many, the plant can't do enough photosynthesis and will either perform badly or die. The damage to the leaves that I see in your pictures do not look like bacterial spec or spot. It "could" be the beginning of blight, but not far enough along to be absolute. So, I would recommend you wait a bit. You may have to resort to a chemical spray to control the critters.

Lincolnshire, eh. I was at RAF Lakenheath, just north of Newmarket. All of the weather came off the North Sea and across The Wash and was cold and wet. But, the British people were warm and accommodated us Yanks as best as they could stand. Got to meet Prince Charles when he toured our facility. Lots of good memories of the time we spent there. My wife and I still talk about the wonderful market on the square at Mildenhall village, and our annual trip to Newmarket for the running of "The 1000 Guineas".

Let us know how you do.

Ted

Will this affect the fruits as well?

Some of the lower leaves on my Mortgage Lifter look like this -- and my first ripening tomato was ruined also.

Does anyone fairly close to you spray herbicides on thier lawns? it almost looks like it might be spray drift from wind carrying droplets onto your plants. Or small bits of a high nitrogen lawn fertilizer burning the leaves.

Lakenheath eh. I myself am in the RAF. Raf Wittering, which isnt that far away. Also my wifes cousin is a trainer at newmarket. Small World :)
I think I am gonna wait and see how it develops. They have just started to flower.
I will keep you updated on the situation wether it gets better or worse.
And may ask for some more advise.

Regards Jim

One of the things I remember VERY vividly was a visit to a golf course down near and somewhat east of Oxford. The name, I believe, was Birford. They had Holstein Lager on tap and it was very cold and probably the best lager I have ever had the pleasure of tasting.

Being retired military myself, I'll say to you, "Thanks for serving." Take care of yourself.

For the entire 21 years I served, I said this little prayer every night. ---- "God, please give us a world where my job isn't necessary."

If you need to Email me, check my (MYPAGE).

Ted
MSgt USAF Retired

Holstein is a fine tasting larger :)

Thanks for your advice Ted, and everyone else.
Take care of yourself.

Reagards Jim