Total loss.

[clay199]

My tomatoes have developed curly top virus, and all have signs of it. I was hoping only the first few that developed it had it, but that was a vain wish. The first few are dying fast, and there is a large number of tomatoes in the middle stages, and the one variety that developed early blight died too. 36 different varieties, and 325 plants. I might have 18 of my famous tomato friend Glenn Parkers Russian Red as they look as if they are not going yet.

According to all the information I have read, there is no recovery.

First attempt at a crop on our lot. Too many thistles on the part where the machines need to push stuff around I guess.

The initial planting went very well, used Craig's methods with total success. Transplanting went fine, lost only two and that was from dropping them in the dark. And the plants looked great until last week. Starting to blossom and I put on 160 blossom bags. Then the first little signs of curling leaves..

Oh well, next year.

[jerseyjohn61]

Clay...
Dude, my heart goes out...
Talk more tomorrow....JJ61

[Sherry_AK]

Now that's some bad news! Sorry to hear it.

Sherry

[cdntomato]

oh, h-e-double-hockey-sticks

[Althea]

I'm so sorry Clay.

I hope your Russian Reds make it. My Russian Reds from the seeds you sent me are doing very well. I gave an extra plant to my neighbor which is also doing well.

[jenn_sc]

I'm so sorry to hear that Clay! I know the feeling all too well. With all the diseases and pests down here I'm usually grateful to get a few handfuls of tomatoes before something takes them down My garden is not nearly as big as yours, so you must be heartsick. I hope you're not too discouraged, there is always next year....not that that makes anything better NOW Some years just suck.

Jenn

[Fert1]

I feel for you. Last year, some sort of wilt took out every plant I had. This year Early Blight has taken quite a toll, and I may even be seeing early signs of the dreaded wilt again, but I'm not sure. It hasn't been so virulent this time, so it may be something else. Just makes you sick, doesn't it?

[spudleafwillie]

Clay,
My condolences also.

I know firsthand what it is like to lose a whole season's work to CTV. I lost 224/225 different spudleaf varieties in 1990 with only Hillbilly Potato Leaf surviving. Same in 1995 with only Hillbilly Potato Leaf and my Grandpa Charlie surviving.

It is a virus carried by the beet leafhopper and affects peppers, tomatoes, beets, and carrots. The leafhoppers usually are abundant in a wet rainy growing season which promotes rampant weed growth in uncultivated fields here in NM. Our chile pepper farmers usually just plow the field under as you said there is no cure for CTV once it starts.

If you need starts for any PL varieties you may have lost seed for, send me the variety names and I'll see if I have them to replace for you

Note: this is NOT a general seed offer to everyone, only to an unfortunate mater grower who lost his entire crop to a disease disaster.

Best regards,
Spud

[landarc]

Total bummer Clay, really sad to lose them all

[Rena]

I am sorry to hear that. Best wishes-Rena

[kimpossible]

Heartbreaking Clay ... all that time and work and TLC. I know I would be very disappointed and discouraged.

But I think these things are a little like childbirth - you forget the pain, and do it all over again ...

[Tania]

oh no!!!

I am so sorry Clay, this is really bad news.

I thought last year here in BC was horrible (I lost about 270 plants to late blight in July/August, no late crop tomatoes last year, so I can imagine how you feel... )

[Gimme3]

Clay, i never have responded, due to simple lack of familiarity, i dont recall Any of your previous posts about things, sometimes.

But this post prompts one Question, due to my own experiences w/curly top.

In my experience, it's quite rare to see it, an unmistakleble in it's Rapidity of plant death, dying rapidly from the Top, down.The SPEED...in which it destroys a plant, is a major Hallmark of it, to me.

I've had CT 2 or 3 times....across many years of growin tomatos...and it always was a INDIVIDUAL Case....never infecting it's neighbors, much less ...an entire crop. I've replanted in the same hole, after pullin a a CT-infected plant..an saw no repeat occurence.

Your dilemna simply sounds like it might be somethin else, to me. not to minimize your feelings, ...One bit...i understand an sympathize ,,,,,thats a Whole lot of work...to lose.

Is there any way...your crop caught wind of a locally applied Herbicide ? if it was me, thats what i'd be tryin to figure out. Curly top is not...in my experience...a Crop Infector. It's quite rare, and to me....actually Amazing to see, in how it so fastly..Kills, a tomato plant. there aint no disease i know of, anywhere near as Fast an deadly as CT, but on the other hand, CT , in my experience, is a tiny blip on the disease Radar, an it never is,...Major, like you talkin about. It's Easy to recognize, an therefore quick to be Quarantined/destroyed.

For the life of me, i dont know how in the World...you get Total Wipeout from it.

a curly top infected plant stands out like a Snowman in Africa...in the garden, there aint no way...not to see...it's affliction.

Mighty sympathetic w/your Loss, Clay...thats a Helluva lotta Work.....to lose. I hope you Truly verify...actual Cause.

Mighty Best wishes that next efforts prove to be Kind...upon Ya...)))

[vodreaux]

Sad to hear the news!

[dokutaaguriin]

I am really sorry to hear of your plight,　Clay. PM if I can be of any help.
Jeff