marmande toms struck by blight already

[deewillow]

 :(
blight so soon???
I have outdoor planted toms, in the back garden as the last two years have been terrible for blight on the plot....three varieties, Marmande, Gardener delight and moneymaker. Some in the ground, some in large pots. All been really thriving, fantastic amount of good sized toms already - and actually picked first couple of ripe money maker today......
then arghhhhh, watering this evening and noticed very small amount of brown/black on the some of the side leaf stems of the Marmande in two of the tubs. When I looked underneath the biggest of the toms (about 2-3" across in size) they have big black soft patches about the size of 10 pence pieces.
I've taken off all the affected fruit (about 15 nice sized toms) and cut off any stems that showed signs of brown. But it hadnt affected any of the leaves - seems to of gone straight to the fruit?
I'm in Kent and we have had very little rain (a small amount last week) and plants have been watered on the soil - not sprayed with hose or anything.
Is there any damage limitation I can do now? or is it inevitable that those two plants should just go in the bin now? I have nine other plants that seem ok at the moment.
oh its so gutting isnt it  :'(
any advice welcome...

[deewillow]

[Jeannine]

Hi I am confused reading your post, you said nothing on the foliage just the fruit, and then a very small black bit on the stem. I am wondering of this might be two different things with a bit of luck..the stems well lets pass on that for a minute.It is the "has gone straight to the fruit bit" that I am wondering about.You describe the tomatoes as "looking underneath" It sounds to me that you are describig Blossom End Rot rather than blight, it would be a dark patch right where the blossom would have been, and the rest of the mato would look fine, It is caused by a lack of calcium, usuallu brought on by too little water at blossom time, and Marmade are especially prone to it.If it is this and a picture would be great, it only shows up on the first fruits, the later ones are OK and it is not a disease so it can't spread to anything else.

I could be very wrong as you still have the bit on the stem, but that might be something else.. fingers crossed for you.

If you are familiar with BER please ignore my ramblings , but if not.. fingers crossed.

XX Jeannine

[davyw1]

I agree the black rings on the base of the fruit is Blossom end rot

[Jeannine]

Base of the plant.  Did you mean fruit?XX Jeannine

[davyw1]

Base of the plant.  Did you mean fruit?XX Jeannine

Yes sorry about that changed it thanks for that Jeanine

[deewillow]

Hi, thanks for replying so quick - and fingers crossed it sounds more positive than i first thought. I'm not familiar with blossom end rot, so thanks for the info.
Yes the black spots are only on the underside of the fruit, where the flower would of been. The foilage on the plant is fine.
I have taken a picture but I haven't worked out how to load it onto this message...will keep trying!!
thanks

[deewillow]

just looked up some images on the web of blossom end rot on marmande toms and i'm pleased to say that seems to be what I have!!!
phew! hopefully all is not lost....
thanks again

:)

[Jeannine]

Oh I am so pleased, I was scared you had pulled the plants up before you read my post.. I get confused wth the 8 hour difference in time!!

Anyway, you still do have the black marks on the stem... but I don't think I would worry about that, it might just be nothing, just keep an eye on it.

BER is devestating but, it gets better, and by the way, you can use the toms, of you cut the bad part off the other is fine.

I am so happy for you that I was right,,blimey, happy as if it was my own toms.

Take care XX Jeannine

[antipodes]

I find that Marmandes and the long Italian tomatoes are susceptible to this. Often some fruit is affected but not all. If they are ripe when it happens, pull them off and just cut out the rotten bit :-) Otherwise remove the affected fruit and get rid of it.

[cornykev]

Deffo BER, I had a couple on mine and so has the bloke next door, surprisenly for the bloke next door as he gives them a drink every day.    :-\   ???    ;D ;D ;D

[Jeannine]

Too much water can do it too by washing out the calcium.XX Jeannine