Has anyone ever lost a SunGold to disease?

Fert1 · July 16, 2009

In responding to another thread, I got to thinking about how SunGold seems totally immune to whatever wilt disease I have in my yard. Some other cherry tomatoes seem to survive it as well, although some do not. None of my slicer-types do.

I was just wondering if anyone had ever lost a SunGold plant to disease. I've seen some mild foliage disease, but never anything fatal. Whatever wilt I have is very virulent, and SunGold just laughs at it, which got me to wondering about its disease resistance in general. So does anyone have any stories of SunGolds that succumbed? Or how about stories like my own, where SunGold survives what other plants cannot? I was just curious and thought I'd see what others have experienced with the variety.

rsg2001 · July 16, 2009

Funny, I've never really thought about this, but as I reflect on the years since I've been growing Sungold, you're right, it doesn't succumb. I've had bouts of fusarium... but the Sungolds keep thriving. A few years ago I had gray mold but it didn't beat down the Sungolds. I've had thunderstorms that knocked the plants about a bit, but Sungold just adapts. And it's almost always my most prolific producer. Interesting....

cottonpicker · July 17, 2009

I've grown Sungold every year since 1990 and have NEVER lost a plant to disease. Has always been prolific, healthy and the fruits were sweet!

**nctomatoman** · July 17, 2009

Yes, I have lost Sungold to disease - it has been hit hard by Fusarium in a few of my seasons (I have one in a pot that is fighting mightily, and at least partially successfully, against it). One year it eventually gave up the ghost, and other plants in the garden (other varieties) survived...so I've not found it completely bullet proof (but then again, no tomato is...that is why I like the word tolerance, rather than resistance). I've never lost one to bacterial or tomato spotted wilt, however.

Wi-sunflower · July 17, 2009

I wonder if the fact that many of the newer cherry tomato varieties have some "currant" in their parentage that might give them the better resistance/tolerance.

With other plants, stuff that is closer to "wild" is usually more tolerant of harder conditions.

Just a thought,
Carol

Eric02476 · July 17, 2009

Almost never, although last year Early Blight finally took over on my SunGolds very late in the season, when they were almost done anyway. At the moment, I've almost lost my determinants to early blight but the Sun Golds are laughing at it. I think it's because they grow so fast and branch so vigorously, so they can more easily outrace a lot of diseases.

Fert1 · July 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by nctomatoman

Yes, I have lost Sungold to disease - it has been hit hard by Fusarium in a few of my seasons (I have one in a pot that is fighting mightily, and at least partially successfully, against it). One year it eventually gave up the ghost, and other plants in the garden (other varieties) survived...so I've not found it completely bullet proof (but then again, no tomato is...that is why I like the word tolerance, rather than resistance). I've never lost one to bacterial or tomato spotted wilt, however.

Interesting. That makes me suspect that my wilt is not Fusarium then. It's pretty impressive that bacterial wilt or tomato spotted wilt haven't gotten any I suppose, (provided they were exposed to it). Part of my reason for starting this thread is sometimes I see posts asking for good varieties to grow when certain diseases are present. Sounds like SunGold does better than most.

**nctomatoman** · July 17, 2009

of all of the hundreds of varieties I've grown over the years, Red Brandywine and Cherokee Purple seem to be the most disease tolerant varieties I've grown - I've not lost either to disease, ever, if my memory serves me correctly.

Frog · July 17, 2009

I've had two seasons where Cherokee Purple were the only tomatoes I lost to disease.

I've never grown Sungold, but I'm tempted now.

BigdaddyJ · July 17, 2009

I've grown SunGold every year since it came out. I'm thinking 1995/1996? Anyway, no, never lost a Sun Gold.

pooklette · July 17, 2009

I lost Sungold plants two years in a row to what I think was early blight (along with about 30 other varieties.) Mulching, staking, fungicides...nothing helped. The only plant that hung on long enough to produce ripe fruit was Black Cherry.

Fert1 · July 18, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by nctomatoman

of all of the hundreds of varieties I've grown over the years, Red Brandywine and Cherokee Purple seem to be the most disease tolerant varieties I've grown - I've not lost either to disease, ever, if my memory serves me correctly.

I've noticed that my Cherokee Purples seem to have a very strong resistance to foliage diseases, but my wilt takes them down quick. They are a pretty tough variety overall though.

Not much does survive my yard's wilt, (SunGold and other small cherries, currant tomatoes, etc.). It just amazes me how the disease that kills some plants so fast can be totally ignored by other plants. Thus showing the need for genetic diversity.

**nctomatoman** · July 18, 2009

I think that this thread is probably showing most of all how we each have different experiences with different varieties in our different gardens in different seasons! Clearly picking out any common themes would be useful, though.

Fert1 · July 19, 2009

Yes, I thought it might be interesting to compare notes. I know different diseases are more prevalent in certain areas as well. So it's nice to know tolerance levels of different varieties in certain regions.

JCBigBlue · July 19, 2009

My Sungold is battling some type of wilt now. Several of my varieties are suffering a little, but the Sungold is second-worst; behind Black Cherry. The plants that I ordered all have some of this wilt, while the ones I started from seed do not. I suspect there was something in the CA greenhouse where my shipped plants were from.

July 16, 2009	#1
Fert1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Upstate SC, Zone 7 Posts: 543	Has anyone ever lost a SunGold to disease? In responding to another thread, I got to thinking about how SunGold seems totally immune to whatever wilt disease I have in my yard. Some other cherry tomatoes seem to survive it as well, although some do not. None of my slicer-types do. I was just wondering if anyone had ever lost a SunGold plant to disease. I've seen some mild foliage disease, but never anything fatal. Whatever wilt I have is very virulent, and SunGold just laughs at it, which got me to wondering about its disease resistance in general. So does anyone have any stories of SunGolds that succumbed? Or how about stories like my own, where SunGold survives what other plants cannot? I was just curious and thought I'd see what others have experienced with the variety. __________________ Holly

July 17, 2009	#3
cottonpicker Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SE PA..near Valley Forge Posts: 839	I've grown Sungold every year since 1990 and have NEVER lost a plant to disease. Has always been prolific, healthy and the fruits were sweet! __________________ "Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause". Victor Hugo

July 17, 2009	#4
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Yes, I have lost Sungold to disease - it has been hit hard by Fusarium in a few of my seasons (I have one in a pot that is fighting mightily, and at least partially successfully, against it). One year it eventually gave up the ghost, and other plants in the garden (other varieties) survived...so I've not found it completely bullet proof (but then again, no tomato is...that is why I like the word tolerance, rather than resistance). I've never lost one to bacterial or tomato spotted wilt, however. __________________ Craig

July 17, 2009	#8
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	of all of the hundreds of varieties I've grown over the years, Red Brandywine and Cherokee Purple seem to be the most disease tolerant varieties I've grown - I've not lost either to disease, ever, if my memory serves me correctly. __________________ Craig

July 17, 2009	#10
BigdaddyJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Zone7 Delaware Posts: 399	I've grown SunGold every year since it came out. I'm thinking 1995/1996? Anyway, no, never lost a Sun Gold. __________________ Farmer at Heart

July 16, 2009	#2
rsg2001 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Zone 6 Posts: 479	Funny, I've never really thought about this, but as I reflect on the years since I've been growing Sungold, you're right, it doesn't succumb. I've had bouts of fusarium... but the Sungolds keep thriving. A few years ago I had gray mold but it didn't beat down the Sungolds. I've had thunderstorms that knocked the plants about a bit, but Sungold just adapts. And it's almost always my most prolific producer. Interesting....

July 17, 2009	#5
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	I wonder if the fact that many of the newer cherry tomato varieties have some "currant" in their parentage that might give them the better resistance/tolerance. With other plants, stuff that is closer to "wild" is usually more tolerant of harder conditions. Just a thought, Carol

July 17, 2009	#6
Eric02476 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Eastern Massachusetts, Zone 6a Posts: 50	Almost never, although last year Early Blight finally took over on my SunGolds very late in the season, when they were almost done anyway. At the moment, I've almost lost my determinants to early blight but the Sun Golds are laughing at it. I think it's because they grow so fast and branch so vigorously, so they can more easily outrace a lot of diseases.

July 17, 2009	#9
Frog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 141	I've had two seasons where Cherokee Purple were the only tomatoes I lost to disease. I've never grown Sungold, but I'm tempted now.

July 17, 2009	#11
pooklette Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Zone 5 Posts: 262	I lost Sungold plants two years in a row to what I think was early blight (along with about 30 other varieties.) Mulching, staking, fungicides...nothing helped. The only plant that hung on long enough to produce ripe fruit was Black Cherry.

July 18, 2009	#13
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	I think that this thread is probably showing most of all how we each have different experiences with different varieties in our different gardens in different seasons! Clearly picking out any common themes would be useful, though. __________________ Craig

July 19, 2009	#14
Fert1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Upstate SC, Zone 7 Posts: 543	Yes, I thought it might be interesting to compare notes. I know different diseases are more prevalent in certain areas as well. So it's nice to know tolerance levels of different varieties in certain regions. __________________ Holly

July 19, 2009	#15
JCBigBlue Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Westland, Michigan Posts: 28	My Sungold is battling some type of wilt now. Several of my varieties are suffering a little, but the Sungold is second-worst; behind Black Cherry. The plants that I ordered all have some of this wilt, while the ones I started from seed do not. I suspect there was something in the CA greenhouse where my shipped plants were from. Last edited by JCBigBlue; July 19, 2009 at 11:18 AM.