R.U. is systemic so it may end up in your tomatoes. I am no expert but look at a bottle of it and call the hot line listed. They should be able to tell you for sure. Good luck, I know you must have at least as much work in your gardens as I do in mine.

really?!? oh, didn't know that... ok, thank you!

Nothing you can do to save them as far as I know but it has happened where they sort of save themselves with time. It all depends on how much the exposure was.

Any signs of new green growth? If so, then some of the roots may still be alive. If not then I'd pick the fruit at first sign of blush and let them finish ripening inside. Reducing the stress on the plant by removing the fruit may let it focus on saving itself more. ;)

Ask the neighbor to let you know ahead of time next time he sprays so you can cover the plants.

Dave

I think that I would tell that neightboy that just like PAINT overspray, he is responsible for keeping what is his inside HIS lot and is liable for the damage caused by his complete lack of control over his activities. He respect your property the same way you respect his. No excuses.

Your neighbor wasn't thinkin' about anyone except himself.

You need to train him better!!!! :>) Tee Hee

Actually, I think your neighbor sounds pretty cool. Probably just didn't understand that his roundup could affect your tomatoes.
I'd bet your tomatoes will be fine if that was the only problem. They'll probably outgrow the stress, but I'd also take the tomatoes off and let them ripen inside.
My understanding of round up is that it is more of a "super fertilizer" that causes weeds to outgrow their ability to sustain themselves. I'd call roundup to find out if it can be washed off. Dr. Carolyn has said before that you can't permeate the skin of the tomatoes, so it would seem like they'd be fine.

"My understanding of round up is that it is more of a 'super fertilizer' that causes weeds to outgrow their ability to sustain themselves. I'd call roundup to find out if it can be washed off. Dr. Carolyn has said before that you can't permeate the skin of the tomatoes, so it would seem like they'd be fine."

Everything, and I mean everything, said in this paragraph is bad information, false information, and dangerous to heed.

1. Roundup is not a "super fertilizer" that causes plants to grow themselves to death. That is preposterous.

2. Whether or not Roundup can be "washed off" the surface of fruit, the plant may have taken the poison into and distributed it via its vascular system to the interior of the fruit. Maybe not. I don't know the exact tracking of Roundup except it is taken to the roots systemically.

3. Tomato skin is permeable at the green immature stage regardless of what this particular poster quotes Dr. Carolyn as having said.

Always follow label directions when dealing with chemicals especially pesticides. Roundup has a label. The label contains directions and warnings. Read them. Follow them. Do not depend upon false and dangerous information spread about carelessly in forums.

Bill

Roudup is a Glyphosphate-based herbicide. It works by inhibiting a specific enzyme called EPSP synthase that plants need in order to grow. Without EPSP synthase, plants are unable to produce other proteins essential to growth. The plants will wither and die over a period of time.

Since most plants use this same enzyme, most plants will succumb to Roundup. Some plants are not susceptible. Some food crops are not susceptible. Some crops are genetically engineered to be resistant to Roundup. Tomatoes are susceptible to Roundup and succumb in the same way as other susceptible plants.

Humans are animals and animals do not depend upon the same enzyme for growth. However some animals, humans included, will have adverse reactions to excessive amounts of ingested Roundup ... including vomiting, diarrhea, colic and dehydration caused by chronic diarrhea and vomiting.

Roundup Label

Oh goodness no! I don't blame my neighbor at all in any way! How could he have known? The affects of RU drifting on the wind never would've occurred to me had I not found this forum and happen to read up on it. Heck, my boyfriend - the guy I live with - was ready to go buy some to use.... he even put up a fuss with me when I told him no. haha.... he's the one that needs more training... haha.

Besides, the affected plants are growing up against his fence, he probably just sprayed a patch along the fence... how could he have even thought that his spray would come over an affect my plants?.... goodness no, I don't blame him one bit.

He is indeed a very good neighbor, and a wonderful person. I haven't even asked him any details about his spraying RU because he was so embarrassed when he learned. He adores our garden, and lives to share in our harvest, and is the first to offer help.

Goodness, I use his fence as part of my trellis at this point too. If he weren't as cool as he his, I'd have to top my plants at this point, they're all hanging over his fence now.

Dave, yes, I've got lots of growth and plenty of good green, its just really stunted looking... very very leggy, thin, limp, not curly on top though, just limp looking.... branches die quickly on these plants however, they brown up from the tips and just die slowly all the way up. I ought to get some picts I reckon.

Thank you so much too for the tip on picking fruit at first blush... thats exactly what I've been doing... I figured as soon as fruit showed any signs of blushing that the gel inside should be complete and to pick it to ease the stressed plant. I've been on top of that (well, that , and I'm going nuts waiting for fruit to ripen, so at least I get to pick something).

Hoosier, thank you sooo much for going through the trouble for me to get the RU label.

The incident must've happened about 6+ weeks ago as thats when I first noticed the damage, small fruit was just being made at that point, right now, everything is getting close to blushing, or just blushing... I'll read up and see if the fruit is safe for consumption or not.

thanks all for being quick to offer advice!!!!