Question
Hi,
I have been growing tomatoes for over 15 years. This year I have about 250 or so tomatoes plants.  They are from 30-45 days old.  All of a sudden approx. 2 weeks ago most all of them started having drooping lower leaves.  I would pinch them off and go.  Now, I am loosing leaves like crazy.   The leaves are not discolored. They look like they are really stressed.  Like as if I left them out in the sun too long when you would acclumate them before planting.  Or if they were really dry needed water.  My plants were beautiful with strong stems for their age.  Now they look thin and weak.  I've even re-transplanted them all thinking it may be my soil combination. fertilizers are Miracle grow for tomatoes, epsom salt, and Burpee's Sea Magic which is a seaweed micro mineral compound.  Do you have any suggestions on what is ailing my Mater's?  Also, I have about 200-300 other garden plants growing along my tomatoes.  All of them are beautiful and growing like crazy.
One last thing, I live in Denver, so my growing zone is 5a.

Thank you for your time,
Respectfully,
Teresa

Answer
Teresa, it is one of two things. Either the tomatoes have contracted a disease specific to tomatoes, such as Verticillium, blight, or anthracnose. The only way to tell for sure would be to bring a plant or soil sample to your local garden center and have them diagnose it.

The other possibility is that they were hit by a light frost. I also live in zone 5 and have seen frosts hit as late as may 20th. For that reason, I do not set out my tender transplants until Memorial Day. I learned this lesson several years ago when I experienced the same sympoms you are describing when the temperature dropped into the low thirties one night. I lost over 20 tomato plants. Some did survive, but depending on the variety, some were much more tender than others and would not tolerate even the slightest of frost.

Without the ability to see the plants, I really recommend taking one out and taking it to your local nursery. Just by sight, they can tell you for sure what has afflicted the plants.

Good luck, and please write again if I can ever provide assistance.

Regards,

Mike