Question

Mystery spots?  

More mystery spots   My tomato plants started life in a seed tray on a nice sunny windowsill. The weather had been nice for a while, so when they were quite big I hardened them off in the cooler porch and transplanted them outside. I noticed the leaves were wilted shortly after, but I assumed they'd get better once they'd had time to adapt.
The weather then immediately went crazy, with constant rain and harsh winds that broke a few of the plants, so I barricaded them off for protection. Now the weather's calmed down I've brought them out, and not only are the leaves looking even worse (they seem to be easily damaged by the wires tying the plants, but without them the plants just fell over), they now have weird black spots on nearly all the leaves.
I've been trying to identify the problem myself, but can't get a definite answer - septoria leaf spot seems to fit best though. I'm still not sure what to do about it. If the affected plants have to be chucked then I can replace them with others inside that seem unaffected, but I'd rather not resort to that. Any advice you can give me would be appreciated.

Answer
The spots are calcium deficiency . A bacteria will grow in a high ph low calcium soil. your soils ph should be slightly acid like 6.8
6.5 is better.
you can control by
1. using milk as a foliar spray
add 1 cup whole milk to gallon water. mist plants in early am. once a week.
2. you really didn't mention what type of plants these were... organic? heirloom? these don't have this problem.
3. the health of the soil is important. notice ph level? you should use compost, rock dust and mulch. an acid mulch will help keep soil ph down.
4. what you feed your plants is important too. You did not mention what you were feeding them? Try using a good organic tomato fertilizer. don't use anything thing high nitrogen since it will make em grow but no fruits.
5. light and water conditions are important. your plants need  min 8 hrs light in a air place, plants should be grown to allow air flow.
6. use compost tea
7. use earthworm casting and make a tea to control diseases as needed

i have more ideas but basically if they are in pots i would repot with a good organic potting soil. to make sure your soil is clean.


let me know if this helps you

Andy Lopez
InvisibleGardener.com