Allotments 4 All

Found a few of my Tomato plants with black marks on the
leaves mostly at the lower part of the plant

Any ideas



Bill.....

Are they outdoors?

If so, it could just be the inclement weather that we had last weekend (high winds, heavy rain, cold days and nights).  Various people have also been complaining about early potatoes that have been similarly affected.

They should recover but obviously keep your eye on them.

Sorry Bak

Should of said that they are in the Greenhouse.

Bill.....

Ive had that problem too over the years but it did not stop the plants producing a lovely crop of juicy tomatoes.

Does look like cold to me....

Your comment suggets black marks but the picture looks more purple.

If it is purple/red I would be thinking along the lines of phosphorus deficiency  while purple/black perhaps boron. I have seen both of these in plants grown in inferior potting soil.

However it is difficult without seeing the leaves first hand.

XX Jeannine

Seems to be going worse by the day



Bill....

You have problems??

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=32155.0

as long as the plant is growing, we take no notice of marks and mottling on the leaves..after all, what you're interested in is good fruit, not lush growth  :)
the bottom leaves on ours look the same but we have fruit already.. :)

That bottom left leaf looks an awful lot like Alternaria Cankar

I'd have said phosphorous deficiency. They may just need a nutrient feed.

 :o :o :o That's what mine are like. They are in mini g/h. I have been told it is inclement weather and am hoping this is true - I gave them a little feed just in case though.
I have a feeling it is the weather as I noticed it after it went cold and wet, then when the weather perked up so did they. Now it's patchy again and they have started to do it again. Hmm.
Not canker no no please no.

My Rodale book of problems says.

Phosphorus deficiency.
Occurs in acid soil and temporarily in cold wet weather.More often seen in early spring because root systems are small and cannot always get enough phosphorus to supply it's needs.
Dark reddish, purple colour on leaves especially on the underside.
To remedy use a foliar spray  with liquid fertiliser or diluted fish emulsion, the plant can immediately absorb the phosphorus through it's leaves,this is especially true if the soil is coldmaking it difficult for the roots  to absorb it.

Could this be the problem.

XX Jeannine

Just read this, Jeannine's advice is interesting because this year I have just started using Seasol and their fish emulsion based fertiliser Powerfeed. I had similar tomato colouration problems as you describe on both my greenhouse and outside tomatoes this year, which have completely resolved following a foliar misting with the Powerfeed solution and watering with Seasol. The Seasol seaweed based product seems to help with root growth and by increasing the plants resistance to stress, it's not a fertiliser as such, which might be why using the two together has resolved things so quickly.

I used another brand seaweed based product last year and did not get such good results, so I'm quite impressed so far!