Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Magnolia on April 29, 2008, 20:08:11

Title: Diseased Tomato Plants
Post by: Magnolia on April 29, 2008, 20:08:11
I've just binned 3 of my 18inch tomato plants as they produced light brown spots on the leaves and the leaves quickly withered and dried up.  One of the plants had white fury lumps/bumps forming on its stem.  I've binned the compost and will disinfect the pots.

I've googled away and I'm not convinced its blight, perhaps it's some sort of mildew? What do you think?  Hoping that I don't loose anymore as the rest look lovely and healthy at the moment.
Title: Re: Diseased Tomato Plants
Post by: manicscousers on April 29, 2008, 20:20:24
don't think it could be blight, it's not warm enough, is it ?
Title: Re: Diseased Tomato Plants
Post by: springbok on April 29, 2008, 20:22:46
My seed leaves have gone brown and withered and fallen off.

I thought brown spots was sunburn?  Or Water burn!!.

Couple of mine look like that, with white feathery bits on the stems, but I was told it depends on the variety.

Title: Re: Diseased Tomato Plants
Post by: Chris Graham on April 29, 2008, 20:27:33
Looks like sunburn to me
Title: Re: Diseased Tomato Plants
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 29, 2008, 20:51:24
It's far too early, and too cold, for blight.
Title: Re: Diseased Tomato Plants
Post by: tonybloke on April 29, 2008, 22:10:14
there are several possible causes of brown spots, followed by withering. 1, water on leaves leading to sun scorch, 2 Tobacco, if a smoker, wash hands before entering greenhouse, 3 tomato mosaic virus, possibly from hand contamination from purchased tomatoes!(wash hands after handling purchased toms)
rgds, Tony (hortic student)
Title: Re: Diseased Tomato Plants
Post by: davyw1 on April 29, 2008, 22:56:10
MAGNOLIA, have a look here two photos one of early blight the other Septoria Leaf Spot my guess it will be the latter

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_hfrr/extensn/problems/earlblht.htm
Title: Re: Diseased Tomato Plants
Post by: morton on April 29, 2008, 23:05:46
Has there been any weedkiller sprayed nearby that could have blown on to the plants. This would cause brown spots and rapid die back of the leaves.
Title: Re: Diseased Tomato Plants
Post by: Biscombe on April 30, 2008, 09:10:32
Were the lumps/bumps near the soil surface?
Title: Re: Diseased Tomato Plants
Post by: Magnolia on April 30, 2008, 10:49:26
Definately looked like the early blight photo.  The plants effected were inside - 2 on upstairs window and the 3rd was in the front porch.  Plants in the plastic green house and on kitchen windowsill are fine - as are the remaining ones.

The lumps and bumps looked like a mould had started to grow all the way up the stem.  Furry to touch.

Don't smoke and haven't had any shop bought Toms in the house. 
Title: Re: Diseased Tomato Plants
Post by: tonybloke on April 30, 2008, 12:28:29
the only way you can get blight in your house this early in the year is from infected seed
Title: Re: Diseased Tomato Plants
Post by: Magnolia on April 30, 2008, 14:54:50
My pot hygiene wasn't very good with some of my plants.  I bought some used pots from the allotment and didnt wash them.  :-[ Wondering whether I could have picked it up from them.
Title: Re: Diseased Tomato Plants
Post by: tonybloke on April 30, 2008, 18:48:20
the life cycle of blight does not normally include living on a pot. It normally over-winters in infected potatoes?
Title: Re: Diseased Tomato Plants
Post by: davyw1 on April 30, 2008, 19:27:59
I am wondering if it could be Spotted Wilt Virus
Title: Re: Diseased Tomato Plants
Post by: davyw1 on April 30, 2008, 19:28:58
Quote from: springbokgirlie on April 29, 2008, 20:22:46
My seed leaves have gone brown and withered and fallen off.

I thought brown spots was sunburn?  Or Water burn!!.

Couple of mine look like that, with white feathery bits on the stems, but I was told it depends on the variety.



White fur or white hairs
Title: Re: Diseased Tomato Plants
Post by: Suzanne on April 30, 2008, 19:48:31
As they were grown indoors I agree with others that won't be blight Blight spores are spread through the air and need wet leaves to germinate on. If indoors its very unlikely that you will be watering the whole plant to an extent you wet the leaves.

Were the brown spots circular and crossing leaf veins or between the leaf veins as if the latter may be a deficiency rather than a disease. And for the white mould - any chance this could have been woolly aphid, which can be a bit of a b****r on indoor grown plants? It shows as a small clump of sticky cotton wool - it can also cause sooty mould to develop on leaves - which I suppose could be considered brown/black patches.