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Growing Tomatoes

Transplant wilt

jerseyearth Zone 6NJ

8 years ago

I gotta say I'm an experienced tomato grower. 40 years! But this baffles me.

I've got one tray of home grown san marzanos and the rest are store bought transplants. In 3 particular areas, I've had 10 tomato plants wilt and die 2 days after transplant.

It isn't a hardening off thing I know. And I've only had problems later on with heirlooms wilting during the 2nd month. Never had any problems.. I just dig a hole and plant.

This time, 2 days later in same spots the transplant wilts. They looked good during the hard rain we had for 2 days, and then when the sun came out, they flopped bigtime.

I think it's a root problem. Or possibly vole. I am really stumped after 40 years of doing this! I've got a mole around there but, they don't eat vegetation, and when I pull up the plant I can't see cuts or breaks. This morning, I filled the tomato holes up with water to seep through any air pockets. Totally stumped and confused after 40 years. Hope the wise ones here can help. thanks!! Pat at the Jersey shore. zone 6

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Comments (3)

Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
8 years ago
I would dig one or two surgically out and very closely examine the cause. Vole , mole,.. and root rot ( due to standing rain water ) are possibilities. As you mentioned moles are looking for grubs and worms and not interested in eating the roots.
With 40 years experience I don't think you are at fault. Things happen to all of us.

Sey
digdirt2
8 years ago
Check the stem at the soil line. Damp-off has been much more common this year thanks to the wet cooler weather many have had. Look for the pinched in browning of the stem right at the soil line or just a smidge above it.

Dave
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The bush is young, had been planted last season from bare root. I do remember now that I had to replant one last year, into a pot because I had initially put it into a spot which I didn't realize was too moist all the time. That one also took a while to come back to life but, was ok in the end. It's one of the ones now in the ground. The reason I'm so worried with this one is it's my Reine des Violettes, which had herbicide damage done to it last year, and was never the same thereafter. I was assured that it would recover this season. So, seeing it this way is somewhat disappointing. I had hoped to get it off to a better start this year. Anyway, I'll give it a few days to settle in, and prune back a bit as suggested. Wish I was able to have my sprinkler system turned on already, that would make my life easier but alas, it's another couple of weeks before that happens, so I'll be dragging buckets of water out to the poor things. Thanks very much for your help!
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jerseyearth Zone 6NJ
Original Author
8 years ago
thank you digdirt2 and Seysonn.. Damping off! never had it in the garden.. only on seedlings planted in potting soil instead of seed medium. The reason I think it's got something to do with water getting to roots is that all through the rain they were standup and healthy.. next day is clear, and they wilted. Thanks so much everyone! Still trying here.. put a little pellet gypsum in soil and swirled it around. Next, I'm thinking sand....

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