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Growing Tomatoes

Aphid damage or...

9 years ago

My veggie plot is part of an organic urban farm community garden. The tomatoes (13 plants) went in early May with water walls, and had been growing beautifully until this week. About 2-3 weeks ago, we did have a major infestation of blood red aphids, which was dealt with using water, squishing, and now the ladybugs that have caught up. Mine got hit hardest, because there was very little else of size growing on the farm or in other community garden plots at the time. They are currently 3-4 feet tall, with thick stems and have been bushing nicely, though we are suckering too.

Now, the plants are showing the black spotted leaves, stems, and some leaf curl. Blight is not common here, but it's been such a cool wet spring that it is possible. I have been very careful to not overwater, with the rainstorms/hail that have been common. However, the pics I find online for blight or fungal diseases have yellowing to the spots, and mine are not showing that. It's just the dark spots, and the plants are still growing steadily, with no signs of trouble on new growth. I have checked with the farm manager, and he can't identify for me.

I am cutting the worst of the damage off, but haven't done anything other yet since I cannot identify.

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Comments (3)

digdirt2
9 years ago
Looks more bacterial than fungal to me - perhaps bacterial speck - but really need to see a close up of the leaf damage as it is the size and pattern of the spots that helps narrow the choices.

Either way the treatment is basically the same - strip off affected foliage and use a fungicide. Since you are growing organically your options for fungicides are somewhat limited but one of the copper based sprays is your best option.

Aphids don't do damage like that but it appears that something has been munching on the leaf edges so I'd explore carefully for other pests.

I hope the color of the new growth is greener than what appears in the photo as those appear rather anemic.

Dave

PS: who came up with the name "blood aphids"? Of the more than 2000 varieties of aphids that is a new one.
balloonflower
Original Author
9 years ago
I heard the blood aphid term from some of the ladies in my herb guild. They are quite red. Probably not a technical name.

I can take the ipad over tomorrow and find a better pic/light. So far, I think the color is fine, but this photo was taken ipad under an umbrella, and the table didn't help.
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balloonflower
Original Author
9 years ago
I did forget to mention in the OP that it is a variety of types, both hybrid and heirloom. There does not seem to be any difference in affected plants. The worst off are a Lemon Boy VFN and a Neves Azorean. I grew from seed. This is the third year for the plot, and we have been adding compost yearly. No issues with the toms in the past. I am using burlap for mulch, in a single layer, and base water by hand, so no soil splashing up. My pair of tomatillos and eggplant have not been affected, and there is also shallots, leeks, corn, beets, and parsnips in.

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