beat down

[b54red]

I had massive leaf damage done to my beautiful grafted seedlings that were sitting out hardening off when we had a bad rainstorm with over 4 inches of rain in 24 hours along with some very strong gusty winds. Despite some of them getting totally destroyed most seem to have survived the ordeal. I sprayed them with Daconil and removed as many of the damaged leaves as was practical but I fear many will now be open to disease issues from the beating the wind and rain gave them. Most of them now look like tiny palm trees and the few leaves remaining don't look healthy anymore. Despite this I went ahead and planted out in the muddy soil of my garden around 30 of them and I am trying to nurse some of the others back to health. The ones I set out in the garden look much better after a couple of days but the ones in the cups still look really bad with some definite yellowing and some black looking areas on the many of the leaves that still remain on the plants. I think the amount of water that washed through the potting soil leached out all the nutrients but I have waited to give them some more until they dry out a bit. I don't know which would be better to go ahead and give them some fertilizer or wait til the potting soil dries out. They were looking so good before this. Oh well what would tomato growing be without setbacks.

Bill

[feldon30]

Oh geez that sucks. Sorry to hear about this.

[JamesL]

Bill,
Awful luck! Hope you get enough to recover.
I had a similar experience last year. Windstorm the day after plant out.
Completely trashed my cukes and broke several tips off the Toms.
As you wrote, what would it be without setbacks....

[b54red]

James my cucumbers were sitting on the same table at the edge of the garden and their leaves were shredded but they look to be recovering much better than the tomato seedlings. Didn't even bother the bell pepper seedlings that I could tell.

Bill

[Got Worms?]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. We've had an intense winter, so, I'm guessing the spring maybe a continuation of the same. Looks like Mother Nature has you on her "hit list" (kb). Hopefully, she will smile upon you with some mild and sunny days. Maybe if you sacrifice a lamb, or pig to the God of BBQs ...

I'm still trying to get my onions in, but breaking through the ice is a hitch (darn keyboard), just too many nights of 20s temperature.

Hang in there, I had quite a few last year that sustained very heavy damage from a late hard freeze, (left nothing but nubs) and many spouted new growth, partially due to a large root ball planted over 12" deep, and the rest to the tenaciousness of tomato plants in general. Good luck, Bill.

Charlie

[BucksCountyGirl]

Sorry to hear! Best of luck to you and your "survivors".

[Sun City Linda]

The only good news in all of this is you have a place like TomatoVille to post this and have all of us understand! Hope they come back stronger than ever!

[JamesL]

Originally Posted by b54red

James my cucumbers were sitting on the same table at the edge of the garden and their leaves were shredded but they look to be recovering much better than the tomato seedlings. Didn't even bother the bell pepper seedlings that I could tell.

Bill

Too bad it wasn't just the cukes. They grow so fast at the start, replacements are easy.

[Delerium]

The Tomato force is with you! Wishing your plants a quick recovery Bill. And never forget how hardly tomato plants are..!

[Vespertino]

Sorry Bill! I think your tomatoes will bounce back in time. We had something similar here, not as much rain but brutal winds. My tomatoes probably look like yours with the sparse terminal leaves at the top and not much else. Hopefully the windy days will be over soon

[b54red]

This year March came in like a lion and went out like a lion and is still roaring a bit.

Bill

[ScottinAtlanta]

I am arriving home tomorrow after being away since the 3+ inches descended on Atlanta. I am dreading what I am about to see - I planted out 100 tomatoes before I left.

[loudog]

Sorry to hear! Hope they come out of it for you! Keep on keepin on.

[Tracydr]

Sorry to hear this. I've seen some pretty beaten tomato pictures from online friends in OK that have thrived and become very productive.
Good luck!

[creister]

Bill,

Sorry to hear that. Could you foliar feed? I know you have a lot of problems with disease. Maybe spray in early morning and then sun will be up to help minimize wet leaves for too long? Maybe you have tried that, just a thought and good luck.

Curt