Fusarium? Something else?

nativeplanter · July 18, 2012

Something is hitting the tomatoes in one of my raised beds this year. I was thinking it was fusarium (and was going to post in that long-going thread), but now there are some other things going on that make me think it might be something else, or more than one thing. I'm hoping someone can help me figure this out - this is the first time I've really had a disease problem in the vegetable garden.

All of them have had a little heat stress, and began showing what I thought was physiological leaf roll a couple weeks ago. Then we went away this past weekend and I wonder if they got a touch dry. I usually water only when necessary, and then deeply.

Case #1: German Johnson. When it started to yellow, I thought I saw spider mites, so I treated for that. But I think it's clear that there's more going on. Next thought was fusarium, but now, looking at the photos, I see some spots on the leaves
German Johnson 1.JPG German Johnson 2.JPG German Johnson 3.jpg

Case #2: Arkensas Traveler. Seems to be just starting on this leaf, but I had pruned a few lower leaves out earlier. This plant had what I thought was physiological leaf roll.
Arkensas Traveller.JPG

Case #3: Stump of the World. Yellowing leaves, some with brown spots, but others just wilted without yellowing. Maybe from a combination of heat and disease?
Stump of the World 1.JPG Stump of the World 2.JPG Stump of the World 3.JPG Stump of the World 4.JPG

Case #4: Black from Tula. This one isn't turning yellow, just wilting. Did not bounce backd after a good water. No idea what's going on with this one.
Black from Tula.JPG

Unaffected (at least visibly) in this bed are Cherokee Purple (which does have spider mites) and Kosovo (of which I had 2 ripe tomatoes that I didn't think tasted very good).

It would be a shame to rip the sick ones out - they all have nice big green fruit on them. And they represent 4 of the 6 plants in that bed. (Everything got in late this year since I was rennovating the beds). Would it make any difference to leave them in until they croak, or would they spread to the other beds? I am assuming this bed gets something non-solanaceous for the next four years.

Hopefully, some of you experts recognize what's going on here. This is the first time I've had real problems. I don't know what is common in SE Virginia, other than the fact that fungi are an issue in general with landscape plants. Of all the years I gardened in Georgia and Massachusetts, I never had a problem before with tomatoes, so this is really new to me.

July 18, 2012	#1
nativeplanter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 86	Fusarium? Something else? Something is hitting the tomatoes in one of my raised beds this year. I was thinking it was fusarium (and was going to post in that long-going thread), but now there are some other things going on that make me think it might be something else, or more than one thing. I'm hoping someone can help me figure this out - this is the first time I've really had a disease problem in the vegetable garden. All of them have had a little heat stress, and began showing what I thought was physiological leaf roll a couple weeks ago. Then we went away this past weekend and I wonder if they got a touch dry. I usually water only when necessary, and then deeply. Case #1: German Johnson. When it started to yellow, I thought I saw spider mites, so I treated for that. But I think it's clear that there's more going on. Next thought was fusarium, but now, looking at the photos, I see some spots on the leaves German Johnson 1.JPG German Johnson 2.JPG German Johnson 3.jpg Case #2: Arkensas Traveler. Seems to be just starting on this leaf, but I had pruned a few lower leaves out earlier. This plant had what I thought was physiological leaf roll. Arkensas Traveller.JPG Case #3: Stump of the World. Yellowing leaves, some with brown spots, but others just wilted without yellowing. Maybe from a combination of heat and disease? Stump of the World 1.JPG Stump of the World 2.JPG Stump of the World 3.JPG Stump of the World 4.JPG Case #4: Black from Tula. This one isn't turning yellow, just wilting. Did not bounce backd after a good water. No idea what's going on with this one. Black from Tula.JPG Unaffected (at least visibly) in this bed are Cherokee Purple (which does have spider mites) and Kosovo (of which I had 2 ripe tomatoes that I didn't think tasted very good). It would be a shame to rip the sick ones out - they all have nice big green fruit on them. And they represent 4 of the 6 plants in that bed. (Everything got in late this year since I was rennovating the beds). Would it make any difference to leave them in until they croak, or would they spread to the other beds? I am assuming this bed gets something non-solanaceous for the next four years. Hopefully, some of you experts recognize what's going on here. This is the first time I've had real problems. I don't know what is common in SE Virginia, other than the fact that fungi are an issue in general with landscape plants. Of all the years I gardened in Georgia and Massachusetts, I never had a problem before with tomatoes, so this is really new to me.