Floppy tomato plant

Posted by Ewa Glowacka on January 20, 2010 at 1:38pm
I am desperate for advice. I have a number of tomatoes plants which I grow on my deck. Most of them grow well, this year I am experimenting with yellow, green, black and red tomatoes. It is great fun.

This afternoon I got shock of my life because one of my nicest and biggest tomato plant (Moneymaker) suddenly went floppy. Usually it means that needs more water but definitely it wasn't a case. I noticed that even some water was "standing" in a pot. I removed a saucer, water disappeared but the plant still does not look healthy at all. PLEASE HELP, what can I do.

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Replies

  • Virgil Evetts January 29, 2010 at 3:09am
    Hi Ewa
    I hope I'm wrong but this looks and sounds like stem or collar rot. Does the plant perk up again in the evening when the sun has gone down? This is a classic symptom.
    Feel around the stem at and slightly below soil level. Is it slippery and sort of slimy? If so you have collar rot. It’s very common and without endless spraying of copper etc there isn’t much you can do to prevent it. It’s just luck of the drawer really.
    Although there isn’t much you can do once this has set in, it is unlikely to infect your other plants if you remove it from their proximity fairly quickly, especially since they are potted.
    However, there is some hope for your money-maker yet. Remove few laterals and put them into a vase of water. Within about 1 week they will have roots and can be potted up. There should still be enough heat left in the season to get some fruit from these.
  • Megan January 25, 2010 at 8:27pm
    Hello Ewa, there's a photo of Richard's watering suggestion here https://ooooby.ning.com/forum/topics/sharing-cost-saving-tips
  • Richard Watson January 25, 2010 at 7:27pm
    its ok,dont be sorry,one container per plant,so each one stays with that one plant,if you think that one tomato plant could easily go through 1-2 liters of water per day you may have to full that container every three days,just watch the tray at the bottom,if it overflows its getting too much,no water in the tray not getting enough.good luck
  • Ewa Glowacka January 25, 2010 at 6:29am
    Richard,

    You could be right that my tomato plants don't get enough water. I don't fully understand your suggestion about 3l milk container. Do you move it between plants? Sorry if I sound dumb.
  • Richard Watson January 25, 2010 at 6:21am
    I think that could be the problem, the water maybe going down the side of the pot and not seeping into the potting mix,what i do with my tomatoes is i have a 3L plastic milk container with a large pin hole in the bottom,full that with water and that will slowly drip out
  • Ewa Glowacka January 25, 2010 at 4:57am
    Yes, I am I am pouring water on top of potting mix. I must say this year I have very strange soil, bought from Living Earth. I am saying strange because water stays in saucers, the plants does not sucks in back when it needs, what used to happen in last year.
  • Richard Watson January 21, 2010 at 6:52am
    Thanks for the photos Ewa,ok we can rule out too heavy a crop ,i think its water,how do you water the plants ,do you pour water on the top of the soil/potting mix???
  • Ewa Glowacka January 21, 2010 at 1:14am
    Thank you for your reply. I attached photos. Tomato plant is staked and additionally I attached it to the trellis. Luckily we are talking about one plant only . It does not look good, plenty of tomatoes on it.

    21012010134.jpg

    21012010135.jpg

  • Mel January 21, 2010 at 12:45am
    Are they staked? It might be too heavy to hold its self up, needs some extra support.
  • Richard Watson January 20, 2010 at 8:04pm
    Photos would really be useful in helping to understand whats happening with your plant,with out seeing it, could it be base rot???
This reply was deleted.