Why do my tomato plants look so sickly?

16 years ago

Hi all,

My name is Sarah and I have tomato envy. I am a first time gardener, and I see other people's plants so full of leaves and bushy, and my plants are spindly and lacking leaves. I have two heirlooms (Brandywine, and yellow pearl), and one hybrid (first girl (I think that's the name)), and ALL are doing poorly. I have one Morimoto (sp?) in an upside down handing basket that seems to be doing great.

I live in an apartment in Los Angeles so my tomatoes are in containers. All the soil is the same, and all have the same fertilizer, water, light, etc.

The ones in the large pots have a lot of yellow and brown leaves, and the leaves that are left are under constant attack by hornworms.

Any thoughts on what is happening to my poor little wimpy tomatoes?

Thanks

Comments (9)

hortist
16 years ago
When growing in containers they generally need regular feeding. They probably arent getting enough fertilizer.
farkee
16 years ago
What sort of planting mix did you use? Makes a huge difference in containers.

What type of fertilizer are you using?

How much light are they getting? Preferably full sun.
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nandina
16 years ago
I have been watching for someone in CA. to do a trial test of an organic liquid fertilizer called Eleanor's VF-11 which I understand is easily available in your local drug stores. Would you please purchase a bottle, follow the label instructions and spray your tomatoes once a week with this? I have heard such good reports on this product that it would be interesting to have you test it and post your observations. Hopefully you will be willing. Perhaps there are some out there who have already used it. Anyone???
sniffmeister
Original Author
16 years ago
What kind of fertilizer can be purchased from a drugstore? What section is it in? I'd like to try it if you can give me more information.

The plants are planted in Miracle Grow Organics Choice Potting soil, and have been fertilzed with with Terracycle tomato fertilzer and I have used it every 2 weeks since I potted them. I just put some worm gold in there today so hopefully that will perk them up. This whole time I thought I was OVER-fertilizing them.

They get sun from 10am-7pm, so that definitely isn't the problem. Is there such a thing as too much sun?

Sarah
farkee
16 years ago
You said you used a bag with SOIL in the title.

Did you use this? See link below

If you did notice it is not for container use. Too dense.

If you used potting MIX then I agree that underfertilization is probably reason for poor performance.

Here is a link that might be useful: Miracle grow organic garden soil
farkee
16 years ago
Hopefully this is the one you got. Made for containers.

((Nandina, I am a sucker for new and unusual products but I really dislike that her website doesn't say what it is made of or what the NPK is. I can read testimonials but I want to know what is the product make-up behind all the hoopla before I purchase it. If you go to Messenger site it says it is harpin protein etc.--I can research that and make a decision. I looked it up on Wash. State site, very,very low NPK but doesn't give source. I don't care if it is the hair of a yak from Mongolia --I may try it if enough people were raving about it but a company should say what are the components of the product.))

Here is a link that might be useful: Miracle Organic Potting MIX
sniffmeister
Original Author
16 years ago
I used the kind for containers, so it must be fertilization. I just put down some worm castings and seaweed today so I hope that does the trick!

Just out of curiosity, what kind of dirt do you plant your veggies in? I have to use bagged stuff because I'm in an apartment and the backyard is clay soil and terrible. Brand names and amounts per container please!
farkee
16 years ago
I usually use Pro-mix or Lamberts but the MG organic potting MIX that you used should also be fine (but even more expensive).

I prefer larger containers 10 gallons at least for a greater yield but it is more expensive to fill them. Plenty of people like 5 gallons and just have more of them. And again for a beginner, an Earthbox is foolproof but expensive. However they last a long, long time.

Each year gets better and better as you learn more and more. Good luck with all your plants.
korney19
16 years ago
You need MORE fertilizer...

Worm castings & seaweed are around 1-1-1 & 1-0-5 at most. You need something with a higher middle number...

Growing in containers you need even MORE fertilizer... and more often than in-ground.

For soilless mixes, I use about 40% municipal compost and 60% ProMix BX (or Fafard's #2, or similar.) I water 2x/day. I feed regularly with water soluble fertilizers, 15-30-15 and later 15-15-18 w/micros. I feed daily thru drip fertigation but it roughly equals the recommended amounts per 7-10 days.

Hope this helps.

Mark