Seedling foliage disease?

tomgirletc · April 5, 2019

I'm planning on planting in root pouches in one week but looks like I might be in trouble already. I’m going out of town for 5 days so I need to know if I should get something sprayed on these kids ASAP and advice from the experts would be very much appreciated.

After hardening off, they have spent probably 6 days and nights outside full-time now. Two nights in a row, but not last night, I sprayed a soap type spray for aphids. It has been slightly chilly at night in the 50s. As you can see, I use DE medium until they go in their big containers with Pro-mix. I only bottom water. Use a splash of TTF in every watering, probably a little less than tablespoon to a gallon of water.

I’ve not had this problem with seedlings before, nor any very worrisome problems with seedlings at all until this problem. Looks like the type of crud I might see more on mature plants near the bottoms that I just clear out but doesn’t usually concern me with so much healthy plant up the main stem. I don’t want to take off leaves on babies unless I must and definitely need to know right away if I should buy copper or fungicide.

What do you all think?

Country Breeze · April 5, 2019

Do you have any pictures that show the problem?

tomgirletc · April 5, 2019

Ha!! I do! I saw them in the "preview" but they didn't show in the message. I'll get back to work on getting the pictures to show up.

Sorry folks!!

tomgirletc · April 5, 2019

tomgirletc · April 5, 2019

I put these images in a photo album here on TV. They might look slight better and easier to see what I'm on about there.

http://tomatoville.com/picture.php?p...496793&thumb=1

http://tomatoville.com/picture.php?p...496793&thumb=1

http://tomatoville.com/picture.php?p...496793&thumb=1

tomgirletc · April 5, 2019

Wish I could figure out how to post bigger pictures. I'm at a loss right now. I haven't needed to post photos here for a very long time.

oakley · April 5, 2019

I see your pictures in the first post fine. I'm not sure how to proceed with the issue.
Get rid of the lower leaves. You don't need those. Many 'crud' issues so early can be hard
to identify. I might go with copper and they need potting up soon.

greenthumbomaha · April 6, 2019

I can't help with identifying the problem, other than perhaps something related to aphids. IMHO, better to remove any signs of bugs or disease, even on small seedlings. Plants will grow new leaves. This will not contribute to the overall well being of the plant, and may spread to healthy neighbors.
Good luck.

- Lisa

peebee · April 8, 2019

All you need to do is remove those tiny bottom leaves that aren't true leaves; you're going to cover them with soil anyways when planting right?
Can't tell by the pics on the other 2, they look ok to me I've had worse looking ones and they did fine. Why don't you wait for more leaves to see if new ones look the same. Also I'd look closely on back of leaves for light green aphids like Lisa suggested. I live in the south bay about 40 min away and am noticing aphids on my plants. I think the recent rains changed things a bit here so I'm finding new things this year, interesting

I'd go ahead and plant them all.
The temps you described had nothing to do with any perceived leaf problems. I've hardened mine off for weeks since Feb in the high 40s and they are the healthiest seedlings I've ever had. The cold and wind helped.

April 5, 2019	#1
tomgirletc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alhambra, CA Zone 10a Posts: 30	Seedling foliage disease? I'm planning on planting in root pouches in one week but looks like I might be in trouble already. I’m going out of town for 5 days so I need to know if I should get something sprayed on these kids ASAP and advice from the experts would be very much appreciated. After hardening off, they have spent probably 6 days and nights outside full-time now. Two nights in a row, but not last night, I sprayed a soap type spray for aphids. It has been slightly chilly at night in the 50s. As you can see, I use DE medium until they go in their big containers with Pro-mix. I only bottom water. Use a splash of TTF in every watering, probably a little less than tablespoon to a gallon of water. I’ve not had this problem with seedlings before, nor any very worrisome problems with seedlings at all until this problem. Looks like the type of crud I might see more on mature plants near the bottoms that I just clear out but doesn’t usually concern me with so much healthy plant up the main stem. I don’t want to take off leaves on babies unless I must and definitely need to know right away if I should buy copper or fungicide. What do you all think?

April 5, 2019	#2
Country Breeze Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: On The Mason Dixon Posts: 93	Do you have any pictures that show the problem?

April 5, 2019	#7
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	I see your pictures in the first post fine. I'm not sure how to proceed with the issue. Get rid of the lower leaves. You don't need those. Many 'crud' issues so early can be hard to identify. I might go with copper and they need potting up soon.

April 6, 2019	#8
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	I can't help with identifying the problem, other than perhaps something related to aphids. IMHO, better to remove any signs of bugs or disease, even on small seedlings. Plants will grow new leaves. This will not contribute to the overall well being of the plant, and may spread to healthy neighbors. Good luck. - Lisa

April 8, 2019	#9
peebee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 1,714	All you need to do is remove those tiny bottom leaves that aren't true leaves; you're going to cover them with soil anyways when planting right? Can't tell by the pics on the other 2, they look ok to me I've had worse looking ones and they did fine. Why don't you wait for more leaves to see if new ones look the same. Also I'd look closely on back of leaves for light green aphids like Lisa suggested. I live in the south bay about 40 min away and am noticing aphids on my plants. I think the recent rains changed things a bit here so I'm finding new things this year, interesting I'd go ahead and plant them all. The temps you described had nothing to do with any perceived leaf problems. I've hardened mine off for weeks since Feb in the high 40s and they are the healthiest seedlings I've ever had. The cold and wind helped.