I am not happy with my young tomato plants. They were sown geminated and potted up twice while growing in my heated conservatory. Last weekend I decided it was warm enough to move them out to the greenhouse, as I do every year no problem. Just before they went out I noted that they were looking a bit pale and 'hungry', (had done in fact since potting on a few days before). I gave them a feed with a liquid young plant food to try and pep them up. Since then they haven't improved and seem to be getting worse, with some of the older leaves going white and dying off.
Other than having been scorched by strong sun/light I can't think what could have made this happen. Its never happened before. So what's the problem and how can I fix it? Don't want to lose the plants, I so enjoy growing my own toms from seed to plate.
Thanks
It propably is the sudden intensity of the light that has upset them...if so, they will get over it. Few of mine that are growing out of their shading curtain area have turned white/pale too...none of us have not used to this kind of weather yet :glasses9:
Hmm. The fact it started to happen before you put them into brighter conditions suggests it is not scorch. Anyway, I think it's hard to give tomatoes too much light. You also mention that the oldest leaves are worst effected. Tomatoes 'rob' minerals from the lower leaves when they are going short, so it points to a deficiency. With the late spring, have they spent longer than usual in pots, and used up all the nutrients in the compost? If so, I would have expected the feed to have quickly had an effect on the new leaves. If not, then I'd try a foliar feed of seaweed solution to deliver trace minerals, and a holiday outside on a sunny day to get some 'proper' light.
Hi
I don't think anybody has said put more seed in it's not too late, and they will catch up but start them in the greenhouse.
tony
Thanks. Plants have recently been potted up, so lack of nutrients shouldn't be a problem. Could bad/faulty compost affect them? Not been too sure about one particular batch, but did use it to pot up these plants.
Seed of these plants, intended for under glass cropping were sown at the end of march so resow not really an option. Anyway they aren't at deaths door (yet!). If replaced it will have to be as plants with whatever I can find suitable in the gc.
I've planted them looking quite ropey and in a week or two in soil (under glass this is) they begin to perk up. After a month or two you wouldn't believe the difference in appearance and health.
You end up taking of the ropey lower leaves anyway :happy7:
Wheather it be Bleaching Out as goodlife (which i think it is) says, lack of nutriants or pot bound, tomatoes are very good at repairing them selves.
As Ed says you should be taking the lower leaves below the first truss of anyway so nip them of now before planting out so the feed is going to the other leaves.
Plant them right up to the bottom leaf stem to encourage the nodes to grow.
Dont expect any feed you give it to click in straight away it takes weeks not days.
If you want to cover your odds nip the suckers off and and plant them into a composted tray.