Over on the Tomato Pest & Diseases forum you'll find a long post called Problem Solver 2. Just use the forum search for that form if it isn't still on the front page. It is filled with links to images of the different tomato diseases. Browse them and see if you can find a pic that matches your problems. Off hand it sounds like you have a fungus problem (the black spots) from your description but I can't be sure without seeing it or a great many more details. If that is the case then spraying with an anti-fungus spray such as Daconil (sold under several different names) will help control it. The purpleing leaves and veins are due to stress - normal for a stressed plants - and will disappear once you ID the other problem and treat it. Good luck. Dave Here is a link that might be useful: Tomato Pests & Diseases forum

When I lived in SD in the 80's, Murphy Canyon was just outside my back fence, and I planted some Filipino sweet potatoes there on the hillside. They naturalized, and had no problem surviving the "winter"; I did have to irrigate them in Summer, though. They spread gradually, as some of the vines rooted where they touched the ground. I can't say whether the small tubers would get larger; I would dig up every other hill in the Fall, and the surviving hills would fill in the space again. Never had to replant.

the soapwort I have, I purchased as a small plant in a nursery. It does indeed spread very quickly. though it does like the sun and will "reach" towards it if it's not getting enough. it is a profuse flowering ground cover. it is literally covered with gorgeous, small, candy pink flowers. and like I said, when blooms are done it stays green and lush. it is almost September and my sweet autumn is blooming out and the soapwort is thick and green. there may be other choices that bloom longer though. I have never tried to separate it, so I don't know how that would work. sorry

Hi Dave, I don't have a photo right now. It's a bit dark, as it's early morning here in Atlanta. The varieties that I'm noticing this with are Matt's Wild Cherry and Yellow Pear. The other tomatoes (Cherokee Purple, Eva Purple Ball, & Green Zebra) don't seem much better. They all have the thin leaf issue going on to some extent... I have sprouted seeds before in organic soil mix I bought at the store and had no issues in the past. I guess I should have stuck with what worked for me. In any case, I'm hoping these thin leafed plants might be able to get better in the ground where there are nutrients. I have this funny feeling though that they might be stunted somehow-pretty mad at myself for not being practical and fixing what was not broken. Thank you for your quick response, Dave. Stella