Question
TOMATO CHANGES
WE LIVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. EACH TIME WE PLANT OUR TOMATOS OVER THE LAST TWO SEASONS, THEY DO VERY WELL UNTIL ABOUT THE TIME THEY SET FRUIT. AT THIS POINT THE OUTER EDGES OF THE LEAVES TURN A LIGHTER GREEN COLOR. THE LEAVES ALSO START TO CURL. FROM THAT POINT FORWARD LITTLE OR NO NEW FRUIT SETS, THE PLANT STARTS TURNING YELLOW, AND SLOWLY DIES.I HAVE ATTACHED A PIC.SEEMS TO EFFECT PEPPERS, AND CUCUMBERS. WE WERE THINKING TOBACCO MOSAIC VIRUS, AND TIRED VARITIES RESISTANT, BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP. ANY IDEAS? THANKS IN ADVANCE. KEN
AnswerKen:
These are my thoughts:
1. If you have not rotated your crops then there is a chance that a root fungus could be causeing the problem.
2. Pull up a dieing plant and check the roots to see if there is any white matter around them. If so, this could be nematodes which there is no cure for.
3. The tobacco mosiac virus is hard to deal with. Some of these virus will attack everything in the field. There should be no smoking in the garden area.
4. There is a slim chance that this could be a fungus. You might want to try a general fungicide and spray the plants.
3. Next year try to not grow you plants in the present location. As the season ends, till the soil and spray with a good fungicide.
4. Maybe you would want to take a plant to your local Agriculture County Agent and ask for their advice.
I know that this is not much help to you but it is the best I can come up with. This is a serious matter as it is taking over your garden.
Best wishes.
Don Battles
