Please help, all my plants took a turn for the worse.

cheebamaster · May 5, 2015

It seems as if most of my vegetables in my garden have taken a turn for the worse and I have no idea why. Some are planted in potting mixes, and others in mixes that I made myself. They are watered regularly.

http://i.imgur.com/5wYWqdO.jpg My early girl had mold...I treated with fungicide and all the top leaves are doing this

http://imgur.com/5wYWqdO,Lbkdnrh,ZHd...0X9w,W4mIsrZ#1 picture of the early girl leaves I removed.

http://i.imgur.com/ZHdRzRt.jpg pepper/cucumber/squash plants all have yellow around the edges of the leaves despite the fact that they are planted in different soils/fed slightly differently.

http://i.imgur.com/c4V0X9w.jpg Almost all my plants have leaves that are curled and turnede upward....in addition to the other problems.

I used FFOF for some plants, and promixBX + compost + azomite for other ones. They are fed with Fish Emulsion every 2 weeks and tomato tone.

Thanks!!!

Cole_Robbie · May 5, 2015

Have you used the same compost before? If so have there been any changes at all?

RayR · May 5, 2015

It looks like spider mite damage in the second photo of Early Girl.
What's the weather been like? Are they getting enough water?

cheebamaster · May 5, 2015

I've done the compost a few different ways

Some containers I did composted cow manure with a professional grade potting mix (fafard, promix)

Other containers I used a commercial grade compost with maure, cotton burr mulch, and promix bx

It's been wet here a lot, i haven't watered in a few days but some of the soil still feels moist below a couple inches.

Do you think it could be nutrient related or watering related? It is my first time planting veggies and I have over 20 containers go...Not all of them are sick. My herbs/corn/squash and hanging basket tomato plants are doing perfect and they use the same mix.

luigiwu · May 5, 2015

this might help some pple see the pics:

cheebamaster · May 6, 2015

Thank you for that luigwu. I will start applying neem oil in case it is...As far as watering goes, we had wet conditions for awhile. I actually thought the plants curling may have been due to overwatering. You think its possible they're not getting enough? The leaf curl was already present since a few weeks...I attributed it to the heavy early rain.

bughunter99 · May 6, 2015

Have you are any of your neighbors been spraying herbicides? The plants look like they have been growing well, the fact that all different kinds got bad all of a sudden makes me think that something different was introduced, ie sudden change in weather or watering that they have not seen before or a chemical exposure.

Starlight · May 6, 2015

What size pots are you using? I see a good size tomato plant in what looks like a too small of container . The experts here have said that especially tomatoes need big size containers. They also said you need plenty of drainage and to drill holes in the side of the containers. You might take a drill and put some holes in that container around the outside of the bottom. Won't hurt the plant to drill with it in it.

Also, what kind of drainage do those containers have, just one hole in the bottom?

I see too a nice pretty yard. What type of soil are you containers sitting on? Has your yard been treated with anything and the area where your plants are now sucking up run-off residue from the lawn?

Tip your container sideways and find your drain hole. Stick your finger up into it and feel the soil there. Is it dry, soggy or moist. Don't just feel the top of the soil.

I agree with Ray on the spider mites. Watch using neem oil. Make sure you follow the temp directions correctly or the stuff doesn't work.

I'd add a TB of Epsom salt every other week to the top of you containers and just let it water in slowly too.

Maybe I can find it again, but Ray said how much Tomato Tone and other nutrients to use for the containers. So far I been following his recommendation and my plants are doing good.

Squash looks like just a touch of sun scorch. Too many cool , cloudy, rainy days , not enough drainage and not enough ferts or too much.

ContainerTed · May 6, 2015

Cheeba, my first impression of the top picture in Luigi's post was that the plant lacks water. I don't feel for moisture in containers. I go ahead and make sure the plant is watered.

If you have good drain holes in your containers, you cannot overwater even if you try. The excess moisture will simply "pass thru". Make sure you feed them with something like Miracle Grow for tomatoes about every two weeks minimum. Give them plenty of water.

When I was growing everything in containers, I found out the hard way that you can't trust anything but your regular schedule of watering and fertilizing. If your containers are dry down 2 inches, then they may be too dry.

Dewayne mater · May 7, 2015

The second photo with the mostly yellow leaves looks like a mineral deficiency, possibly magnesium. The even distribution of yellow and lack of disease type brown spots/blobs, etc is why I think that. It is hard to tell if you are all in containers, but if so, I think that makes the possibility of mineral deficiencies much higher. I've never had anything like that, but, if I'm right, you can add Epsom salt and I imagine a host of different products to increase Mg.

Dewayne Mater

May 5, 2015	#5
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	this might help some pple see the pics: __________________ Subirrigated Container gardening (RGGS) in NY, Zone 7! Last edited by luigiwu; May 5, 2015 at 10:48 PM.

May 6, 2015	#9
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Cheeba, my first impression of the top picture in Luigi's post was that the plant lacks water. I don't feel for moisture in containers. I go ahead and make sure the plant is watered. If you have good drain holes in your containers, you cannot overwater even if you try. The excess moisture will simply "pass thru". Make sure you feed them with something like Miracle Grow for tomatoes about every two weeks minimum. Give them plenty of water. When I was growing everything in containers, I found out the hard way that you can't trust anything but your regular schedule of watering and fertilizing. If your containers are dry down 2 inches, then they may be too dry. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

May 5, 2015	#1
cheebamaster Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: SC lowcountry Posts: 14	Please help, all my plants took a turn for the worse. It seems as if most of my vegetables in my garden have taken a turn for the worse and I have no idea why. Some are planted in potting mixes, and others in mixes that I made myself. They are watered regularly. http://i.imgur.com/5wYWqdO.jpg My early girl had mold...I treated with fungicide and all the top leaves are doing this http://imgur.com/5wYWqdO,Lbkdnrh,ZHd...0X9w,W4mIsrZ#1 picture of the early girl leaves I removed. http://i.imgur.com/ZHdRzRt.jpg pepper/cucumber/squash plants all have yellow around the edges of the leaves despite the fact that they are planted in different soils/fed slightly differently. http://i.imgur.com/c4V0X9w.jpg Almost all my plants have leaves that are curled and turnede upward....in addition to the other problems. I used FFOF for some plants, and promixBX + compost + azomite for other ones. They are fed with Fish Emulsion every 2 weeks and tomato tone. Thanks!!!

May 5, 2015	#2
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Have you used the same compost before? If so have there been any changes at all?

May 5, 2015	#3
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,468	It looks like spider mite damage in the second photo of Early Girl. What's the weather been like? Are they getting enough water?

May 6, 2015	#7
bughunter99 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: zone 5 Posts: 821	Have you are any of your neighbors been spraying herbicides? The plants look like they have been growing well, the fact that all different kinds got bad all of a sudden makes me think that something different was introduced, ie sudden change in weather or watering that they have not seen before or a chemical exposure.

May 6, 2015	#8
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	What size pots are you using? I see a good size tomato plant in what looks like a too small of container . The experts here have said that especially tomatoes need big size containers. They also said you need plenty of drainage and to drill holes in the side of the containers. You might take a drill and put some holes in that container around the outside of the bottom. Won't hurt the plant to drill with it in it. Also, what kind of drainage do those containers have, just one hole in the bottom? I see too a nice pretty yard. What type of soil are you containers sitting on? Has your yard been treated with anything and the area where your plants are now sucking up run-off residue from the lawn? Tip your container sideways and find your drain hole. Stick your finger up into it and feel the soil there. Is it dry, soggy or moist. Don't just feel the top of the soil. I agree with Ray on the spider mites. Watch using neem oil. Make sure you follow the temp directions correctly or the stuff doesn't work. I'd add a TB of Epsom salt every other week to the top of you containers and just let it water in slowly too. Maybe I can find it again, but Ray said how much Tomato Tone and other nutrients to use for the containers. So far I been following his recommendation and my plants are doing good. Squash looks like just a touch of sun scorch. Too many cool , cloudy, rainy days , not enough drainage and not enough ferts or too much.

May 7, 2015	#10
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	The second photo with the mostly yellow leaves looks like a mineral deficiency, possibly magnesium. The even distribution of yellow and lack of disease type brown spots/blobs, etc is why I think that. It is hard to tell if you are all in containers, but if so, I think that makes the possibility of mineral deficiencies much higher. I've never had anything like that, but, if I'm right, you can add Epsom salt and I imagine a host of different products to increase Mg. Dewayne Mater