Lost Brandywine, Cherokee Purple Next

[travis]

Keger, which hybrid varieties are you growing in the same field alongside the diseased Brandywine and Cherokee Purple plants, and which are not showing signs of the same disease?

[Keger]

Originally Posted by b54red

Could it be fusarium wilt? I have just found my first two plants of the year affected by it but they won't be the last. I have a bad fusarium problem and have found that the majority of the heirlooms I have tried do not survive because of it. Some of the hybrids have good resistance and others don't. Just because the letter F is listed after a hybrid doesn't necessarily mean it will always resist fusarium well enough to produce a good crop. I have now found enough heirlooms that show some resistance to fusarium from years of experimenting that I can usually have a good number of plants from them that are productive; but I always put in a few of the more resistant hybrids for insurance.

Guess it could be. Talked with a guy today that runs a huge local wholesale operation that said the was an insect I havent heard of before that was tearing up plants this year and hurting production due to the mild winter not killing them off. I'll check that out and post findings.

[Keger]

Originally Posted by travis

Keger, which hybrid varieties are you growing in the same field alongside the diseased Brandywine and Cherokee Purple plants, and which are not showing signs of the same disease?

Simple stuff, Celebrity, a lot of them, Romas, better bush, sweet million, all doing great.

[Keger]

Looks like some TMSW maybe? Local greenhouse guy says its been bad, but should only affect about 10% or so of the plants. Does that make any sense?

[feldon30]

The idea that TSWV has reached Dallas scares the heck out of me. There is no cure and not much for preventatives.

TSWV has a very distinctive appearance with brownish-purple "bronzing" of the leaves in a strange pattern.

Still hoping you can provide us/me with some photos of your plants so we can attempt to diagnose the problem.

[Keger]

Here we go with some pics. Whatever it has has only hit Heirlooms, nothing else. One Black Cherry, a couple Cherokke Purple, and all but one Brandywine. I contacted the Aggies (Texas A&M, they are good at this stuff), and a greenhouse owner, and they both said the same thing. They think insects got it and and passed on a virus, but said it should only affect a small percentage of them. What do you guys think? Thanks!

[Keger]

As I meantioned above,I did talk to the Aggies and a grower, they say the triphs (?) have been out and really bad this year from the mild winter. Interesting to note also, I friend gave me some plants from a big box store, they are not doing near as well as my local stuff and the stuff I started from seed. No telling what they were exposed to I guess. Also, so much comes up from Mexico down here now who knows what comes with it?

[feldon30]

Originally Posted by Keger

we are 12" over on rainfall. Soil here has always been great. Old Brazos bottom and composted.

1st picture looks like Early Blight which is absolutely a survivable disease. I just remove diseased foliage especially the bottom 10-12 inches once the plant is over 2 feet tall.

You say you have had more than 12 inches (30cm) of rain. I do not see any mulch in that picture, so that means the soil is splashing back onto the leaves when it rains, spreading fungus and other disease. Apply 1-2 inches of pine straw or pine bark mulch to minimize soil splashback from rainstorms.

2nd picture shows a "bleaching" effect radiating from the stems OUTWARDS. That looks at first glance like herbicide damage to me. Have you used any "weed and feed" anywhere near those tomato plants? Do you have a lawn service? It doesn't look like Roundup (glycophosphate) overspray as that would have a characteristic curling and shriveling of the leaves. It looks the plant absorbed some Roundup (2,4-D) from the roots.

3rd picture shows a bit of browning/russeting of the plant stem. I don't see anything to be alarmed about in that picture.

[DogsandDirt]

I certainly don't know as much as Feldon, but I agree with the assessment of pictures #2 and 3. #3 looks like an abrasion, maybe from the twine? Mine get those from rubbing against the tomato cages/supports.

Here's a link with pictures of glyphosate damage:
http://ncsupdicblog.blogspot.com/201...-tomatoes.html

As for picture #1, I still have a hard time differentiating between Early Blight and Septoria.

[feldon30]

Originally Posted by DogsandDirt

I certainly don't know as much as Feldon, but I agree with the assessment of pictures #2 and 3. #3 looks like an abrasion, maybe from the twine? Mine get those from rubbing against the tomato cages/supports.

Here's a link with pictures of glyphosate damage:
http://ncsupdicblog.blogspot.com/201...-tomatoes.html

Wow yeah that looks exactly like it. So some Roundup has leaked from somewhere, or was in the soil less than 3 months ago before the plants were put in the ground.

And the first pic I think mulch will solve that problem.

When it comes to tomatoes, I'm not quick to accept "**** happens". I like to know exactly what's going on and take steps to prevent future problems. We put a lot of time and effort into gardening.

[Keger]

Cool, thanks!

Nope, no mulch, have some brewing. We are on acerage, no lawn or lawn service, no herbacides. Who knows? I did put out fungicide for blights, and am going to spray Sevin tomorrow. Hornworms out now.

[Keger]

Originally Posted by feldon30

Wow yeah that looks exactly like it. So some Roundup has leaked from somewhere, or was in the soil less than 3 months ago before the plants were put in the ground.

And the first pic I think mulch will solve that problem.

When it comes to tomatoes, I'm not quick to accept "**** happens". I like to know exactly what's going on and take steps to prevent future problems. We put a lot of time and effort into gardening.

Yeah, we do. This year for sure. 200 for one hombre is a few to deal with. But fun.