Hi Sharon I am no expert on tomatoes but have a look at the link below there is so much info there. I have these pages printed up in a folder, and I use it a lot, if it is none of these problems then maybe it is something in the soil like nematodes, planting marigolds near tomatoes is said to repel these insects. And just as a after thought are they getting enough water. Hope this helps Cheers...MM

Here is a link that might be useful: Recognizing Tomato Problems

Hi Sharon,
Wilting can be caused by many things - from erratic watering to infection by bacteria or fungi. If it's a soil borne disease, then rotation is the way to go, but maybe suggest he try unused parts of the garden. Some of these nasties can hang around in the soil for a number of years.
Fusarium can be a problem in the tropics, if that's of any help. So can the dreaded nematodes. I've had to deal with the latter and they're a right royal pain.
Not much help I know, but it may give you a place to start.
Ray

Yes, I was going to suggest it could be nematodes. They tend to chew the roots so do a visual inspection and see how those root balls look. What the solution is for these critters I'm not quite sure, but you could start with the laborious task of changing soil and do make sure there is oodles of organic matter in the soil, as this forum's resident from Derby will attest. Try a combination of mushroom compost and cow manure with as much good homegrown compost as possible. Maybe your Dad needs some more seeds as he might be inadvertently saving seeds from commerical hybrids that aren't ever going to grow true to form? Some ideas. - grub.

Grub
Why do I get the feeling you and Ray are closing in on your next tomato victim. Be careful Sharon, before you know it you'll have 54 tomato varieties, in seven different colours that you'll know by name. LOL

The mere suggestion of needing some more seeds has seen many strong gardeners succumb to the curse of the New South Welshmen.

"the New South Welshmen"

Is that a new tomato variety?

:)

Do I sound like a pusher? Tee hee hee. Anything to offload a few of my 500,000 tomato seeds. Am thinking of direct sowing 50 to the hole. Might even rename that Welshman the Waratah Tomato after our state flower. Victoria's is wattle ir something isn't it? How about SA, Spatz, what's your state flower?

cactus

It sounds like nematodes and the easy way to tell is to pull out the affected plants and inspect the roots. Nematodes cause little conspicuous lumps amongst the roots.

The organic answer is said to be drenching the soil with molasses or sugar syrup. I have not tried this yet and really ought to give it a go if I can find info on how to do it properly. Marigolds are also said to deter them but they didn't work for me, although they are pretty. I rotate crops, I mix tomatoes into odd parts of the garden to try and surprise the 'todes. Nothing has really worked very well.

Growing in pots is one answer, but don't rest the pots on soil or even on pavers near the soil. The nematodes somehow get in. I may even look at hydroponics this summer.

I am very keen to hear from anyone who has tried the molasses cure.

Another organic solution to nematodes is to grow masses, and I mean masses, of marigolds. Apparently they're attracted to the roots but die because of something given off by the plants. A Dutch trial showed that a very dense planting, with plants no more than 15cm apart, is effective for two years. That's a lot of marigolds. If it's any use, the marigold they recommend is Tagetes patula, variety "Single Gold".

Thanks Ray. I might give the marigolds another try this year then. By the sound of things it might pay to establish the marigolds in the beds before sowing tomato seedlings. That way any nematodes in the soil will be attracted to the marigolds before the tomatoes are present.

I can't find that marigold variety in the catalogues I have. I expect others will be fine. I don't suppose you can refer me to that Dutch study to see if there are any other tips I can pick up.

In the meantime I will look for more info on that molasses cure.

David (determined to grow a proper tomato crop this year)

well any seeds are welcome here.I have only ever grown ..dare I say it....Grosse Lisse and Roma so would welcome some seeds of something different.

Antesoo, check out my list below to see if anything interests you. I'll be posting out more seeds this week and you'd be welcome to have some too. Just send me an email.

Patrina

Here is a link that might be useful: Tomato List

Following on from this thread, I have planted out my tomato bed with marigolds at 200mm square spacings. Not enough marigold seeds germinated for me to plant them any thicker than that. They are still quite thick and once they are established there will be little ground exposed and very little soil not covered by their roots.

I have staggered planting the tomatoes amongst them. The marigold seedlings went in first. A week later I did one row of tomato seedlings. A week or two later another row of tomato seedlings and so on. This will test whether the tomatoes benefit from being sown at a similar time to the marigolds or once the marigolds are established.

I will keep this forum posted on the progress of this. My control sample will be tomatoes grown in pots on my paved area.

I am interested in anyone else's efforts to deal with nematodes organically.

A little more on marigolds and root-knot nematode (RKN):
First, there are several species of RKN and not all are killed by marigolds.
Second, most places say only one type of Marigold, Tagetes patula or French marigolds work. Suitable varieties being Bonita Mixed, Gypsy Sunshine, Scarlet Sophia, Single Gold, and Tangerine.
Others say that you can also use Tagetes erecta or African marigolds such as Crackerjack and Flor de Muerto.
All agree that the first works, if planted densley.
They warn that neither Tagetes signata nor Tagetes tennifolia will work.

Yet another method, suitable for growing a few plants is the following:
Get a bale of straw/hay. Cut out a hole, like for a largish pot but NOT all the way through. Fill it with potting mix and plant your tommy. The nematodes cannot get to the plant roots sitting so tantalisingly above them because they cannot negotiate the straw/hay.

Hope this all helps.

PS I couldn't relocate the Dutch study but typing 'nematode marigold' in Google will get you lots of info.