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Tomato Problem

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Gillinger (U8835892) on Saturday, 9th July 2011

  Something's happened to some of the tomato plants in my greenhouse. The new trusses are dying off even before the flowers have formed and new growth is looking very weedy - certainly not healthy. I'm not sure what's caused it but my suspicions are directed at the moment to a spraying of Epsom Salts that I did a couple of weeks ago because my Sungolds were showing all the signs of Magnesium deficiency. Strangely enough, my sungolds are now doing OK but my cherry toms (Gardener's and Sweet Millions) are the worst affected. I had a similar problem for a while with the Gourmets but they now seem to be setting trusses again. The lower havles of all the plants are reasonably healthy.
  
  They are watered every day, fed every other day and the flowers are misted and shaken every day. In fact I'm doing nothing different to what I've been doing for a few years now.
  
  If anyone has any clues I'd be grateful.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Saturday, 9th July 2011

  my cherry toms (Gardener's and Sweet Millions) are the worst affected.
  
  The lower havles of all the plants are reasonably healthy. 
  
  Not sure so looking for clues!
  
  The first thing thing I notice is; both these varieties are better grown as 'bush' varieties, and I have the impression you are growing them as cordons!
  
  I noticed this morning on my GD's that they too had poor top growth yet the bottom growth is OK.
  
  What I am tempted to do is take the growing tip of the affected plants and let them 'bush' up.
  
  My reasoning is; I don't think I am going to get much fruit off as things stand, so nothing ventured nothing gained and in this case potentially nothing lossed!
  
  They are watered every day, fed every other day and the flowers are misted and shaken every day. In fact I'm doing nothing different to what I've been doing for a few years now. 
  
  You don't mention if you are growing them in pots / grobags I get the feeling they must be or you wouldn't be treating them in this manner.
  
  I grow mine in the greenhouse border and find that I only need to water 4-5 times per week and feed once a week.
  
  If I am growing them by the 'ring culture' method then I find I have to generally water them daily and feed twice a week.
  
  Personally I think you are watering too much but then again I don't know your circumstances!

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Gillinger (U8835892) on Saturday, 9th July 2011

  Interesting reply. I've always grown Gardener's as a cordon with generally good results. I tried Sweet Millions last year but ther were not quite so abundant, I was just giving them another go to see.
  
  As far as growing goes, they're all in seperate pots (builders buckets) but using compost from growbags. I think I might pinch them out as there are plenty of flowers further down on the Gardener's at least.
  
  The Sungolds are looking good and the Gourmets have some nice big toms on.
  
  My question is, can spraying healthy plants with Epsom Salts do any harm? I would have said no, after reading how to apply it, but now I'm not so sure.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Bemean (U14387244) on Saturday, 9th July 2011

  I only spray my tomatoes and cues with diluted seaweed food, all mine are doing great on this, As for food, I use a homemade Comfrey tea and then mulch the base's with the leafs. An old bloke on my allotment site put me on to this method; he has won many shows with his crops and now judges them.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Italophile (U12516505) on Sunday, 10th July 2011

  Gillinger, Epsom Salts is basically magnesium. Using it is only really beneficial if there's an existing magnesium deficiency either in the soil or any fertiliser you're using. Ending up with too much magnesium can interfere with the plant's uptake of calcium. If the plants are fine without the Epsom Salts, I wouldn't bother using it.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by 4smilingcat6 (U14338727) on Sunday, 10th July 2011

  Just a jocular reply-if you were a small insect looking to pollenate a tomato flower would you like a dose of epsom salts?
  
  Another thought-it`s been fairly hot recently and some of my tomatoes showed a bit of scorch damage at the top

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