A question for tomato growers about bugs & diseases

Oh, by the way, these are cherry tomatoes.

Also, any advice in growing tomoto plants in a pot (as opposed to the garden) would be appreciated. It's the first time I've tried this.

To-MOTO plants, are they a Japanese variety?

deted post

Ok, I've fixed that, you librarian, you!

I wonder if there is such a thing as a Japanese variety?

Oh, I am SO hurt!


Need some more info in the kinds of bugs and symptoms. Toms are kinda hard to keep organic as some of the nasties need strong measures.

too much water?

You are not hurt, Stilly! You're all hot & cranky from the heat up there!

OK: Yellowing leaves on the bottom 1/4 of the plant & a few leaves that look "lacey", like something has nibbled bits out of them. A bit of browning on these leaves. Not too much damage yet, but I'd like to figure out how to stop it at this stage.

Could be that, dys. I'm just getting used to this tomato in a pot thing. Maybe I've over-watered during some really hot days we've had.

I'll be back later to see if there's any further advice ... gotta rush now to make it to an appointment.

Cheers,
Olga

Bottom leaves are the oldest and the plant may be dropping them anyway. If you do spot any damaged leaves CUT THEM OFF STRAIGHTAWAYS and chuck em in the rubbish!

I was more thinking that you had damage to the fruit. Unfortunately the only way to be sure that any eggs laid in them won't hatch out when the fruit is ripe is to use a systemic pesticide and wait the required period of time.

The real problems tend to not be overwatering, but the sorts of things involving nutrition. I have an Assoc Dip in Horticulture donchaknow?

reapeat post deleted

You are a man of many parts, Stilly! What a surprise!

Thanks for that. I had actually begun removing the damage plants, for aesthetic reasons! But will now continue with the process for the health of the plant. Trouble is, the way things are going, I may may not have any leaves left!! Quite a bit of fruit, though.

So it's poisons, huh? What a shame ...

I planted my solitary tomato over a couple of months ago, in a mixture of potting mix & compost. In a large pot. It took off like a bomb! Mostly like due to the fact that it had almost hot house conditions ... under a clear fibre glass roof. The problem reared it's ugly head only after I gave it a hit with Charlie Carp (fish-based fertilizer. Maybe I should have diluted it more?) Then crazy, rapidly changing weather conditions (extremely hot, then cool, then windy, then very humid - you know Melbourne weather! ) But recently I've moved it out from under the glass on it's little wheelie-thingie to a more exposed spot on my verandah.Now the damn thing is as tall as me! Staked, of course.

Maybe I should plant another, just to be on the safe side?

msolga

It sounds like you are not watering regularly - tomatoes should never be allowed to dry out (particularly important in a pot) and need to be given a regular watering regimen. Also, the lacy bits sound like a caterpillar (flip leaf over and check if there are tiny loopy green caterpillars on them). My solution for caterpillars is usually just to squash them as I find them. The yellowing leaves could also be a fungus (try not to get water on the foliage) and tomato dust is probably the best thing to use. If you want a healthy plant with lots of fruit, try watering in a bit of potash. Brilliant stuff.

crisscross

You may be right. I'm not used to this tomato plant in a pot situation! First I thought I'd over-watered, so cut down. Maybe the soil got too dry?
Much easier to just plant straight into the garden, I'm discovering.

OK, then ... Tomato dust.

Potash? I've never used it. Tell me more!

Welcome to A2K, crisscross. Nice to see another Aussie here! There are quite a few of us now! Enjoy!

First the good news: My first 2 little cherry tomatoes have ripened!
Now the bad news: After removing all the damaged leaves my tomato plant hardly looks a thing of beauty anymore. And what's left is sprinkled with tomato dust!

Hello and welcome Crisscross....What is this potash you mentioned?

Msolga, thanks for this thread...I have 2 potted tomato plants also with riddled leaves...

My leaves look like snail tracks...all squiggly and yellow where the creature ventured. Do you think the tomato dust can rid me of the snail feedings?

I've not used any chemicals thus far. Thanks again, PamO.

It seems to be essential, unfortunately, Pam. In a humid climate like yours I guess you'd need to to inhibit fungul diseases.

Pam

Are you certain it's snails you have & not caterpillars? If you do have caterpillars, yes: snail dust!

I've not seen any caterpillars. I've only seen one small black snail slipping across a pumpkin that I had next to the tomato plants. He or she looked guilty.

I went to the hardware store...and the guy told me to try crushed eggshells at the base of the plants. Apparently, the eggshells will cut the little guys up as they try to access the plant. I think it actually worked for a while...but now I see they must have found a new route up because I'm seeing evidence again.

Also, he said one could place a plastic coffee can lid full of beer at the base. I'm not sure if that kills them, or if it just intoxicates them until they forget why they were there in the first place!