Any idea what could be causing this?

Joel5000 · July 11, 2009

I've got an Early Girl in a container that took off like gangbusters but has now slowed way down in its growth rate and is looking quite sickly. The leaves have developed this dark sooty-looking stuff around the edges. Also, it hasn't set much fruit for the size. Pictures are below. Any ideas what this could possibly be? Advice? Thanks!

rsg2001 · July 12, 2009

It looks like a nutritional deficiency... judging by the dark edges. Try a fish/seaweed foliar spray. Container plants tend to need more nutrition after that kind of a growth spurt.

Joel5000 · July 12, 2009

Thanks!

I don't have a sprayer, but I'll give it a good drench with Omega 6-6-6 and Kelp extract. Glad to hear it looks more like a nutritional deficiency than a disease.

rsg2001 · July 17, 2009

Container plants are notorious for leaching out nutrition, so that's what I'd recommend. Good luck!

Joel5000 · July 26, 2009

Just an update; I went ahead and gave it a good soaking with fertilizer and kelp extract. (I used Miracle Gro for Tomatoes instead of Omega because my container of Omega is about 4 years old and I wasn't sure if it was still potent.) ANyway, the plant has made a complete recovery, all the new growth looks good, and even much of the older foliage has recovered. Thanks again for the advice. I'll be sure to keep a regular fertilizing schedule.

July 11, 2009	#1
Joel5000 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 43	Any idea what could be causing this? I've got an Early Girl in a container that took off like gangbusters but has now slowed way down in its growth rate and is looking quite sickly. The leaves have developed this dark sooty-looking stuff around the edges. Also, it hasn't set much fruit for the size. Pictures are below. Any ideas what this could possibly be? Advice? Thanks!

July 26, 2009	#5
Joel5000 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 43	update Just an update; I went ahead and gave it a good soaking with fertilizer and kelp extract. (I used Miracle Gro for Tomatoes instead of Omega because my container of Omega is about 4 years old and I wasn't sure if it was still potent.) ANyway, the plant has made a complete recovery, all the new growth looks good, and even much of the older foliage has recovered. Thanks again for the advice. I'll be sure to keep a regular fertilizing schedule.

July 12, 2009	#2
rsg2001 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Zone 6 Posts: 479	It looks like a nutritional deficiency... judging by the dark edges. Try a fish/seaweed foliar spray. Container plants tend to need more nutrition after that kind of a growth spurt.

July 17, 2009	#4
rsg2001 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Zone 6 Posts: 479	Container plants are notorious for leaching out nutrition, so that's what I'd recommend. Good luck!