Tomato stems brown

Curly · February 8, 2016

Sorry about pic orientation

These are some I over wintered for seed, I see the same results the last 3 years on all my starts/seedlings, typically loose 1/4 of seedlings. It looks they are damping off when just seedlings but remaining plants might be slow but they finish the seasons well.

In pic you can see where stem narrows.

I have tried several growing mediums, these plants are grown in prelate, bottom watered.

Anything to be worried about? Any ideas?

b54red · February 9, 2016

I'm not seeing any pics. Sorry but it sounds like you are describing damping off. I use a fine DE called UltraSorb that is available at Auto Zone. I also bottom water but once the DE is moist all the way to the surface I remove the seedling container from the water. If you leave them in water too long it encourages damping off. Hope this helps,

Bill

BigVanVader · February 9, 2016

Yep, damping off is your issue. Normally from the soil being to wet for to long. http://cropipm.creativedonkeys.com/e...mping-off.html

Sometimes replanting deeply (above scarring) in fresh sterile potting mix will remedy the issue. Or as Bill stated use diatomaceous earth.

Curly · February 10, 2016

Thanks for the replies.

These plants are 6' tall under lights, with several 4-10oz maters. I grew them in a 2' diameter corkscrew rather then straight up. I am finished with them for this winter. Starting peppers and flowers soon, tomatoes in a month

I read a lot on damping off, I never have seedlings topple over with the classic signs of damping off but rather I see this hardening of the bottom stem after Transplant and always well above the soil line. The seedlings I loose just peter out after a few weeks.

I agree over watering is an issue, when growing so many varieties of tomatoes. Each having different water intakes. Maybe I will play around and try to get my act together before I start tomatoes in numbers

MissS · February 10, 2016

I get darkening and thinning of the stems from fusarium wilt and/or verticillium wilt. Do your leaves wilt as well as having this discoloration of the stems?

Whatever it is, Yes I would be worried.

Marcus1 · February 11, 2016

I've had outbreaks of botrytis, grey mold, on seedlings in the greenhouse that after treatment leave the stems looking like those in your picture.

Marcus

ginger2778 · February 11, 2016

Another thing that turns stems brown and likes to invade in indoor areas as well as outside is Tomato Russet Mites. The plants often put on new growth from the bottom that goes on to produce. If it is TRM, A spray with 1Tablespoon Neem and 1 Tablespoon dish soap to 1 gallon water will do the trick. must be done 3 times with 4 days in between to get hatching eggs, , and a thorough under, and over leaf and stem cover down to the soil line.
Telltale is a bronzed stem with a powder feel. the mites are 2/10 of a millimeter, so you cant see them unless you have a 15 power lens or so.

February 8, 2016	#1
Curly Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Alberta 2b/3a Posts: 11	Tomato stems brown Sorry about pic orientation These are some I over wintered for seed, I see the same results the last 3 years on all my starts/seedlings, typically loose 1/4 of seedlings. It looks they are damping off when just seedlings but remaining plants might be slow but they finish the seasons well. In pic you can see where stem narrows. I have tried several growing mediums, these plants are grown in prelate, bottom watered. Anything to be worried about? Any ideas? __________________ Darren

February 10, 2016	#4
Curly Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Alberta 2b/3a Posts: 11	Thanks for the replies. These plants are 6' tall under lights, with several 4-10oz maters. I grew them in a 2' diameter corkscrew rather then straight up. I am finished with them for this winter. Starting peppers and flowers soon, tomatoes in a month I read a lot on damping off, I never have seedlings topple over with the classic signs of damping off but rather I see this hardening of the bottom stem after Transplant and always well above the soil line. The seedlings I loose just peter out after a few weeks. I agree over watering is an issue, when growing so many varieties of tomatoes. Each having different water intakes. Maybe I will play around and try to get my act together before I start tomatoes in numbers __________________ Darren

February 10, 2016	#5
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,150	I get darkening and thinning of the stems from fusarium wilt and/or verticillium wilt. Do your leaves wilt as well as having this discoloration of the stems? Whatever it is, Yes I would be worried. __________________ ~ Patti ~

February 9, 2016	#2
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I'm not seeing any pics. Sorry but it sounds like you are describing damping off. I use a fine DE called UltraSorb that is available at Auto Zone. I also bottom water but once the DE is moist all the way to the surface I remove the seedling container from the water. If you leave them in water too long it encourages damping off. Hope this helps, Bill

February 9, 2016	#3
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	Yep, damping off is your issue. Normally from the soil being to wet for to long. http://cropipm.creativedonkeys.com/e...mping-off.html Sometimes replanting deeply (above scarring) in fresh sterile potting mix will remedy the issue. Or as Bill stated use diatomaceous earth.

February 11, 2016	#6
Marcus1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Colorado Posts: 124	I've had outbreaks of botrytis, grey mold, on seedlings in the greenhouse that after treatment leave the stems looking like those in your picture. Marcus

February 11, 2016	#7
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	Another thing that turns stems brown and likes to invade in indoor areas as well as outside is Tomato Russet Mites. The plants often put on new growth from the bottom that goes on to produce. If it is TRM, A spray with 1Tablespoon Neem and 1 Tablespoon dish soap to 1 gallon water will do the trick. must be done 3 times with 4 days in between to get hatching eggs, , and a thorough under, and over leaf and stem cover down to the soil line. Telltale is a bronzed stem with a powder feel. the mites are 2/10 of a millimeter, so you cant see them unless you have a 15 power lens or so.