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Virus on GH tom plants...

• Message 1. 

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Monday, 18th July 2011

  I think three of my tom plants in the GH have a virus the leaves are mottled with yellow and brown bits on them. All three plants have stunted growth but loads of fruit on.
  
  It hasn't affected all the plants in the GH though but the plants affected have been like this for a while. At first I thought I wasn't watering enough then thought they needed more feed but the leaves have become more and more tougher.
  
  I was thinking of throwing them out in case what ever they have spreads onto other plants in there. It's not blight and the stems are fine.
  
  Any suggestions as to what it might be and where it came from?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by MaggieL (U14931473) on Monday, 18th July 2011

  Maybe the leaves only got a bit cold? Mine look like this too, but the newest leaves are fine now that the weather is warmer.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by jo4eyes (U13654107) on Monday, 18th July 2011

  Hi Zoomer, there was a Q on GQT about this recently.
  
  If the yellowing is between the leaf veins then it's magnesium deficiency. Quite common & not very detrimental according to PGreenwood. Loads of fruit- why worry?
  
  The brown bits could possibly be leaf scorch (?) from the sun falling onto water droplets left after plant watering. Not sure about this, but you may have had more sun than I've had here. J.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Monday, 18th July 2011

  Oddly enough the fruit on these plants have been the first to ripen which I've eaten and they've tasted fine. I'm fussy with what I eat too from the garden and wouldn't have even thought of eating them unless they looked ok
  
  I don't think it's magnesium deficiency because the whole leaf isn't yellow. These three plants from the start of the season have had stunted growth and their leaves were alot tougher.
  
  Only three tom plants in the GH are home grown the rest were bought and they've all grown really differently in terms of how healthy they look although they've all had the same watering and feed.
  
  We have had a lot more sun I think from your neck of the woods Jo. The GH does get alot of over head sun although sheltered on two sides it can get very hot in there despite having door and vent open all day.
  
  

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Italophile (U12516505) on Tuesday, 19th July 2011

  zoomer, it's unlikely to be a virus. Most of the tomato viruses will manifest on the stems as well as the leaves and, eventually, the fruit itself. And the viruses do their damage pretty quickly. Your plants have been in this state for a while.
  
  You've ruled out blight but there are other fungal problems with similar characteristics. The common identifier is usually a small spot or patch, often with a "halo" around it. If the leaves have been more generally affected - they just become yellow/brown - it's probably not fungal. Over-watering, for example, can manifest through the leaves, as can over-fertilising.
  
  The heat inside the GH could be the key, particularly if there's direct sunlight pouring down onto the plants. It could be sunstroke/sunburn. Anyway, the bottom line is that they're producing and the fruit tastes good. I'd maybe try shading the affected plants - they don't need direct sunlight for fruit to ripen, just warmth - and keep enjoying the bounty.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Tuesday, 19th July 2011

  I do tend to water nearly every evening because the soil always looks dry. Feeding is once a week. Thanks for the advise, I would have thought over watering would have made the leaves limp, we live and learn
  
  Will rethink my watering regime. Last year I had plastic bottles buried next to each tom plant and filled these with water.
  
  One of the plants which has the most fruit on is in a pot so I've moved it onto the ground, can't do anything with the other two apart from covering as they are in bottomles pots in the GH bed but I will probably pick most of their fruit over the next couple of weeks.
  
  Some of the healthier looking tom plants still have all green fruit on and two plants are flowering with only tiny fruit on.

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Italophile (U12516505) on Wednesday, 20th July 2011

  zoomer, the toms won't suffer if the soil dries out for a day. Mine, in the ground, are very deeply watered about every five days even when the temps are in the 30s. They're very very tough critters that thrive on tough love.

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Wednesday, 20th July 2011

  Italophile:
  I'm sure you are right about watering but some of my pot plants in the garden can be bending over some evenings when I get home.
  
  I seldom water veg in the garden usually only when it's first planted out but shall make a determined effort to resist watering in the GH each evening.
  

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