What is wrong with my tomatillo?

GoGayleGo · June 22, 2012

Help please, not sure what's going on here.

Dork Fish · June 22, 2012

Ugh <shiver> that really gives me the heebie jeebies. It looks like eggs but it also looks as though they busted through the stem. Not even sure if that is possible.

I say cut it ASAP!!! but heck im a newbie. <shrug>

drezz · June 22, 2012

Yeah, that is pretty gross. I wouldn't wait for them to hatch. Perhaps you can scrape them out and squish em but I can imagine that getting infected.

**nctomatoman** · June 22, 2012

I don't think it is eggs - my feeling is that it is trying to send out air roots for whatever reason. I've got a few dwarf tomatoes that send out a mass of very short roots - not sure why - as a test, see if you can scrape any of that off gently. If not, it may be that the stem split - pressure, bending - and it is essentially trying to guarantee its future by re rooting.

GoGayleGo · June 22, 2012

Thank you! Do I just leave it alone then, or do I need to "do" anything to it? It is happening to a much lesser extent on one or two of the other main branches as well.

Masbustelo · June 22, 2012

Tomatillo by nature is a vine that would grow along the ground. It is also related to the tomato. Tomatoes if allowed to vine on the ground will send down roots like squash plants do. So if your tomatillo was vining on the ground under the right conditions it would be anchoring itself with these little roots to the ground. I think what you see is completely normal and don't do anything with it.

GoGayleGo · June 22, 2012

Thanks, I'm very new at all this so not really sure what's normal and what isn't. I appreciate the help and information!

June 22, 2012	#2
Dork Fish Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Zone 5B Illinois Posts: 402	Ugh <shiver> that really gives me the heebie jeebies. It looks like eggs but it also looks as though they busted through the stem. Not even sure if that is possible. I say cut it ASAP!!! but heck im a newbie. <shrug> __________________ Andrea

June 22, 2012	#4
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	I don't think it is eggs - my feeling is that it is trying to send out air roots for whatever reason. I've got a few dwarf tomatoes that send out a mass of very short roots - not sure why - as a test, see if you can scrape any of that off gently. If not, it may be that the stem split - pressure, bending - and it is essentially trying to guarantee its future by re rooting. __________________ Craig

June 22, 2012	#3
drezz Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: zone 5 Posts: 18	Yeah, that is pretty gross. I wouldn't wait for them to hatch. Perhaps you can scrape them out and squish em but I can imagine that getting infected.

June 22, 2012	#5
GoGayleGo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Zone 7B, MD Posts: 56	Thank you! Do I just leave it alone then, or do I need to "do" anything to it? It is happening to a much lesser extent on one or two of the other main branches as well.

June 22, 2012	#6
Masbustelo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Illinois Posts: 97	Tomatillo by nature is a vine that would grow along the ground. It is also related to the tomato. Tomatoes if allowed to vine on the ground will send down roots like squash plants do. So if your tomatillo was vining on the ground under the right conditions it would be anchoring itself with these little roots to the ground. I think what you see is completely normal and don't do anything with it.