Need some advice on tomato Problem

[NArnold]

Hey Guys,
I was hoping you could take a look at my tomato plants. They were doing well for the last two months and now they are kind of look sick. Any observations or advice would be great. I am not sure if they are diseased or lacking nutrients.

These pictures did not turn out as well as I hoped I will take more when the sun shifts in the sky.

Thanks
Nick

[NArnold]

Here are the bad pics.
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Thanks

[KarenO]

I think they look a bit stressed and nutrient deficient. but not too bad really. If they were mine, I would give them a haircut, pruning off any severely spotty or damaged foliage, especially from the bottoms then water them with a medicinal dose of balanced soluble fertilizer.
KarenO

[digsdirt]

Agree that all the damaged foliage needs to be removed. Are there more than 2 plants in each of those Earthboxes (can't recall what the name of this alternate model is called)? They appear to be very crowded.

And even if only 2 plant, supplemental feeding is required (despite what the manufacturers claim). Even if you used the band of fertilizer or the fertilizer mat that comes with particular model it is well past exhausted and the plants are quickly becoming anemic in appearance.

So prune, thin, and feed.

Dave

[NArnold]

Thanks Guys

The brand of SWC is GrowBox. There are only 2 Tomatoes in each one.
I used the fertilizer that came with the kits in 2 of the SWC's. Then in the other ones I used bone meal dolomite and fox farms oceans potting mix.

What would you guys suggest as a balanced soluble fertilizer? I have fish emulsion, but that is just nitrogen I believe.

I have Espoma organic which is not water soluble and I have the Miracle Grow All Purpose fertilizer. The Miracle Grow is pretty old I think.

I thought I read somewhere that it is not a good Idea to use salt based fertilizers in a SWC. Is there a organic version that would work. I haven't figured this whole fertilizer thing out yet.

I would not have a problem with buying something else.



Thanks
Nick

[KarenO]

My choice for this situation would be the MG.
Karen

[RayR]

Before you go treating a symptom that may or may not have anything to do with the cause did you investigate other possibilities? This is only happening on the old growth at the bottom?
Look under the leaves for pests and pest damage (Aphid's, Spider Mites or whatever other pests that inhabit your area) The interveinal yellowing looks like a magnesium deficiency but it can also be caused by bugs. Ya, I've been down that road before.

.

[digsdirt]

Fish emulsion comes in various formulas so check the nutrient ratings on your yours before ruling it out. Most common is 5-1-1. The GardenTone can be used if you can get to the soil but that is usually difficult plus it is slow acting. Like Karen, of the choices you have available I'd use the MG. It is only an issue if you use it to excess and many have reported excellent results from it in Earthbox type set ups by mixing it at 1/2 strength of the label instructions and then pouring it down the tube..

Personally I prefer either the Texas Tomato Food although it is not purely organic due to the stabilizer used and it is pricey or Neptune's Harvest Fish and Seaweed Blend http://www.neptunesharvest.com/fs-191.html
but there are many other products available too.

The real issue is that container plants need a regular source of nutrients as they leach out quickly. I feed my Earthbox plants once a week. Your Foxfarms is a good mix but the nutrients it contains will only feed the plants for a couple of weeks, not for the whole season and lime doesn't provide nutrients as such, it just stabilizes the soil pH.

And Ray makes a good point - do a close inspection for pests too.

Dave

[AlittleSalt]

Originally Posted by KarenO

My choice for this situation would be the MG.
Karen

I agree with Karen. Remove yellow leaves and use MG.

[NArnold]

I know I am over thinking this but...........

I mixed up the MG fert at full strength. Which is 1 TBSP per gallon. I added it to the reservoir of my SWC. I did this before digsdirt posted the half strength solution.

My SWC's actually hold 3 gallons of water, so technically I think I only added the fertilizer at 1/3 strength. Am I over thinking this or should have I added more or less?

And then assuming that I only added 1/3 strength and assuming that this is sufficient, should I do this once a week?

Thanks for the help guys and have a happy 4th.

[Sun City Linda]

I use calcium nitrate at the rate of one teas weekly down the watering tube and many other EB growers use this also as a "snack" Its not a balanced fert but helps prevent BER and does supply an ongoing source of nitrogen. I agree Texas Tomato Food is a great product but not sold anywhere near me so I had to pay shipping...

[digsdirt]

It would be 1/3 strength IF you also added 2 additional gallons of water or if 2 gallons was already in there but you'd have no way to know that for sure. If all you did is pour that 1 gallon of mix into it then that is full strength. 1/3 strength weekly (7-10 days) is fine.

Dave

[NArnold]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I am not sure if I can see a physical difference in the tomatoes yet, but they have all started drinking water like a sieve again. That has to be a good sign. Each container is going through 4 gallons of water a day and the high the last couple of days was only in the mid 70's.

I have a ton of tomatoes on my plants. I can count the ones with BER on one hand. Which is good for me. Usually the whole first crop is ruined with BER when I raise tomatoes.

I am going to Omaha today and they have what seems to be a really good hydroponics store. I am going to try and find some Texas Tomato Food and some Calcium Nitrate.

My plan is to use one dose of TTF a week, and 1tsp of Calcium Nitrate a week in my SWC's.

Oh, yeah, what do you guys think about running your garden water through a carbon filter. Is this a good idea for a container garden, to keep from killing the bacteria in the soil? I have been doing it for the last 4 weeks and its a pain. I am running the water through the filter at about 1 gallon every 5 minutes.

Just curious if you guys think I am wasting my time by doing this!


Thanks
Nick

[Gerardo]

Originally Posted by NArnold

Oh, yeah, what do you guys think about running your garden water through a carbon filter. Is this a good idea for a container garden, to keep from killing the bacteria in the soil? I have been doing it for the last 4 weeks and its a pain.

You could get some fishpond dechlorinator for about 5 dollars and it will also take care of the chlorine/chloramine. A few drops goes a long way and the plants will thank you for it. It should prove somewhat faster than the setup you describe.

Alternatively, there are filters you can attach to end of your hose that are relatively stress-free, but around 50 bucks. Nonetheless, they do last for many thousands of gallons.

Our city water has a lot of chlorine/chloramine and since I started removing it and paying closer attention to the microbiological herd in each of my containers the results have been well worth the effort.

And in case you 86'd a fair amount of the good guys, you can always add some of this (at 6 dollars an ounce, it's a hell of a deal) and again, the plants will thank you for it.

http://www.fungi.com/product-detail/...uble-1-oz.html

Hope the harvest continues.