Is this little thing really what's destroyed my gardens?

[z_willus_d]

Originally Posted by dice

Could you test the Safer insecticidal soap on some other kind
of plant that you have no particular investment in (a weed)?
Just to see if it does the same thing to the foliage that you see
on your tomato plants? Maybe pick another weed and try just
the permethrin? (For completeness, pick a third weed and apply
the same mix that you sprayed your garden with.)

Maybe you can eliminate some variables this way (it is one, the other,
or both together that damaged your crop).

You might also mix up some of the pH down alone (without any of
the soaps, insecticides, or fungicides) and pick a victim weed to try
that on.

You might have a product recommended for this from a garden
supply, but the "pH down" I have seen are hot tub products. I would
not be surprised if one or more of them could produce some kind
of chemical burn on plants.

Hi Dice, all good thoughts, but I feel as though I've already filled out the matrix. I always spray at dusk, and while the next day temperature and nighttime temps may vary (as well wind conditions), I'm hopeful those variables are secondary concerns.

Here's what I've done (not everything):

evergreen-pyrethrum-concentrate (full strength), Safer Insecticidal Soap (full strength), Spreader/Sticker (half strength), pH down to correct to ~6pH (used meter)
--> Dried out new foliage, some black spotting/pooling on old foliage

evergreen-pyrethrum-concentrate (full strength), Safer Insecticidal Soap (quarter strength), Spreader/Sticker (half strength), Rally 40WSP (min recommended dosage)
--> Fried 90% of new foliage dead and to a crisp, black; streaks and spotting/pooling on older, larger leaves; where drops pooled on fruit created dark, indented pockmarks


Safer Insecticidal Soap (quarter strength), Spinosad (full strength)
-->No obvious effect,


Safer Insecticidal Soap (quarter strength)
--> No obvious effect

I suppose I could fill-in the matrix with more data. I know that oil products mixed with soap can become caustic to a plant, though I haven't sprayed (TMK) an oil product for some time now, in anticipation of using sulfur. I'll try to post some pics of the damage later.

Thanks,
Naysen