travelingbooklover
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 12 Apr 2008
Location: Kuwait
Posts: 268
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:47 pm Post subject: Tomato Plant Problem |
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My tomato plants are dropping dead. I have tried everything, I divided them into groups and tried more watering, less watering, varying the fertilizer times, even tried Epson salt on some of them. No sign of bugs or disease. When I pull them up, the roots are fine. They just wilt and die but are still very green. I don't know what is wrong but I suspect the high heat (we have been over 110F for weeks.) Even moving them to a shadier place does not help. Do you think it is the heat or am I missing something?
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Biita
Arctic-ally Challenged Forager
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Location: Norway (Map)
Posts: 1954
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:33 pm Post subject: |
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Have you tried to bring them in the house because of the heat. Thats where mine are so they can get the heat,,,lol. Good luck!
Ohhhh Sjoerd!!! Yoo-hoo,,,,,,
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travelingbooklover
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 12 Apr 2008
Location: Kuwait
Posts: 268
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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I should have thought of that. I am going to try moving some indoors. I was afraid that would not give them enough light but it's worth a try...I really, really, really miss homegrown tomatoes. I start drooling when I look at everyone's pictures of their own tomatoes. Thanks for the advice!
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Sjoerd
Enlightened One
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Location: West - Friesland (Map)
Posts: 4101
PlantStew: 93 |
| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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110°...that's pretty warm.
Toms do do well with heat, in fact their roots NEED it to produce optimally.
My first impression is that perhaps it's more the wind that's doing things to your plants more so then the sun, per se. Wind can have a significantly drying effect on plants.
Moving them inside would get them away from it and as for the sunlight--it's not actually the sunlight that toms need, it's the heat.
You could try moving them inside and placing them in a place where they can get some indirect sunlight--not direct sun all day long.
I would try and find some sort of tray to place under them in which you could keep water. That would evapourate and hopefully avoid too much dryness for them. This is a strange approach because toms actually like hot and dry; however the temps that you allude to seem excessive to me, so I am wondering if it isn't too dry. I can't be sure not being there.
Next, I would stop switching around with experimental watering and feeding trials. I would suggest that you give them a measured amount of water perhaps twice a day (at the same time each day) and feeding them once every week (once the first little fruit has formed). This may well be important. There is discussions and investigations into this now. There is a very strong suggestion that youy should not begin feeding your toms until AFTER they have formed the first 1 or 2 fruits.
In terms if watering and feeding, it is important to have a regimented structure with their care. Toms do not like irregularity...and their fruits will reflect this.
Another thing is that your toms should be tied up to a stick or something to support them from wilting or from breaking under the weight of the toms that will eventually form.
It is really difficult to make any sort of reliable suggestions to you having not seen the plants. I would really like to see a few pics of your toms. Is that possible?
You mention that they are dropping dead...and I would like to see how they look when they do this, as well as see them just before they die.
Your situation is as interesting as it is alarming. Trying to grow them in that area is a real challenge, but I believe that it must be possible.
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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html
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