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sudden tomato death
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Posted by jenintas (My Page) on Mon, Feb 7, 05 at 4:05
| Tragedy has struck - my two Stupice have suddenly carked it. They seemed OK this morning when I went out for my morning conversation, but just now they both look pretty much dead. Not sure what the cause is - could be all the rain (I am on very heavy clay here, though they are in raised beds, and I have improved the soil with lots of organic matter, gypsum etc).
What disturbs me more is that my two College Challengers are also looking quite limp this evening - just hoping the neighbours haven't been spraying with anything nasty!!
Still have my Rouge de Marmande with about 20 nice looking fruit on it - and something called First Class waiting with a dozen or so quite big toms - just need some more warm weather.
This tomato growing is very stressful!! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: sudden tomato death
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| You said it in one! If the soil is water-logged, it could be just that and they'll improve if it stays dry! |
RE: sudden tomato death
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| Hope so Ray - they're looking pretty far gone at the moment though! |
Cruel weather
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| The weather can be a cruel ally at times. I had heavy rain at exactly the wrong moment. Most of my tommies split due to swelling, then rotted on the vine! |
RE: sudden tomato death
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| I've got some splitting and rotting here too. If it's not one thing, it's something else! Grrrrr |
RE: sudden tomato death
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| I have some splitting too in the fruit that was close to being ripe - it's been so wet so suddenly - my Stupice were the best performing so far - aaaaaaghh! Last year I ran out of summer and had green fruit still sitting there when the cold weather set in - I am hoping to beat it this year, but here we are with only maybe six weeks to go ....... I'm moving to warmer climes!! |
RE: sudden tomato death
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| Build them a little hoop house. Keeps them warmer and drier! That's what I'll be doing in Armidale. I want to grow melons but there summers probably won't be long enough. Besides, I want to be ready to plant out good size tommy plants as soon as the danger of frost passes! |
RE: sudden tomato death
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Good advice from Ray Jen. A small greenhouse come hoophouse can extend your season both ends. Also, you can water at your will and let the rain do what it wants.
I grew a couple of tomatoes in a spot in the patch that gets wetter than the rest, and they wilted so badly that I pulled them and threw them in the bin. I haved learned from that experience and advice from others here not to water them to much. So, the rain has probably done the deed on your toms. Let them go and see what happens, oh, and hope for less rain. |
RE: sudden tomato death
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| If you know the rain's on the way, and if they're on the road to ripeness, you can pick them and bring them inside. I resorted to doing it recently. |
RE: sudden tomato death
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| The hoophouse/greenhouse idea is probably the way to go, Ray. I also need some more room, and some flat land...... A small tip - you will find when you get to Armidale that you have to really pounce on the warm weather - though you will have a longer season than here in Tas - I lived in Sydney for twenty years before coming here, and have learnt that when it's time for planting, you plant, or you miss out!! Things don't leap out of the ground the way they do up north/on the coast. Ozmantis - the wet might well be the problem -will have to see how they look tomorrow......very annoying at this time of year, when it is usually bone dry. Ain't gardening grand - always something to complain about - tee hee !!! |
RE: sudden tomato death
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- Posted by Mabb Melbourne, Aust (My Page) on
Mon, Feb 7, 05 at 16:19
| Jen, that's sad news! I think we've been lucky here, or perhaps we managed to introduce enough organic matter into the soil, as the Big Rain hasn't appeared to affect our tomatoes... it's a raised bed and I'm sure that's helped, plus I think we have a dip at the bottom of the area and perhaps most of the runoff went there. So far no splitting or rotting etc. It's raining again today, steady but fairly light, after a warm day yesterday. Gotta love Melbourne's weather, LOL. I do hope your plants recover and are not totally lost! I'd be crying my eyes out :-) |
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