Leaf curl virus

[VC Scott]

The three Mortgage Lifters I planted early started beautifully and were the first to set fruit. Then one was hit pretty hard, first by aphids and then by white fly. I got the bugs under control with a little water and the help of some friendly lady bugs.

A few weeks later the leaf curl began. I thought maybe just the weather. Then the purple veins on the underside became prominent. I thought perhaps a phosphorus deficiency. The leaves are now thickened and leathery. Flowers are drooping and dropping off.

I am facing the reality that this is a virus. Getting ready to pull and bag these three. Fortunately, they are 50 yards away from 200 other tomatoes I planted this year. I haven't seen any white fly in the main field.

A Red Boar planted close by, but after the white fly was under control is doing well.

I would appreciate any advice.

VCScott

[Heritage]

Scott,

It doesn't look like a virus to me, I think it might just be the cool weather we're having. How long have they been planted out? Are they the same age as the plants in the main field that look OK and are they all getting the same water/fert?

Steve

[Heritage]

Also, when were they last fertilized?

[VC Scott]

Steve:

The seeds for the Mortgage Lifter were started in mid-November as an experiment to see if I could be successful planting from seed. I intended to throw them all away because it would be too cold in January for them to prosper. I ended up with 45 seedlings and threw out all except the 4 best. These I planted under a hoop house. The hoop house was trashed by a storm in late February and one of the plants was lost, but the rest were doing well. Then came the aphids, followed by white fly.

The plants in the main field were started in January-February and planted out in March-April, so they are a couple months younger.

The soil where the Mortgage Lifers are planted is 100% decomposed granite. At time of planting I added some well aged horse manure and composted horse manure, but I didn't have any organic fertilizer or worm castings on hand. They get Miracle Grow every other week, give or take. The last application of Miracle Grow was last week.

The Mortgage Lifters were planted in an area with poorer soil because it is the part of the property that gets the most sun in winter. The area is also more exposed to wind than the main field. At this point, I am glad that they are a good distance from the rest of the plants.

In the mail field I have 8 inches of top soil then decomposed granite underneath. The soil in the main field is supplemented with composted horse manure, worm castings, gypsum, and an organic fertilizer containing mycorrhizae. They also get a bit of diluted the Miracle Grow every couple of weeks.

Maybe I will try to top dress the Mortgage Lifters with the organic fertilizer and some worm castings. However, they are declining rapidly.

Thanks for your help.

[Heritage]

How, and at what strength, are you applying the Miracle Grow?

[ginger2778]

I am unfortunately very intimately familiar with TYLCV gotten from whiteflies. I have had a fierce time fighting it in my garden for more than 9 years now, and the whiteflies always eventually win. The picture you show isn't that at all. Wish I could tell you what it is, but it isn't Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus for sure.
Hope that helps.

[VC Scott]

Originally Posted by Heritage

How, and at what strength, are you applying the Miracle Grow?

I apply in liquid form diluted to 1/2 tablespoon per gallon.

[Heritage]

Originally Posted by VC Scott

I apply in liquid form diluted to 1/2 tablespoon per gallon.

I would make a basin around each plant and soil drench each plant with a gallon (or whatever volume it takes to fully wet the roots) of full strength MG (1 TBS/gal). Then repeat in a week. I don't think the organic side dressing will be available to these plants soon enough to be of much benefit. There could be some soil science I'm not aware of when growing in DG but I think your problem is available fertilizer.

I plant many of my tomatoes in a field with soil similar to your main field. (8 inches topsoil on top of DG) Even with a quality slow-release, pre-plant fert and regular injection of soluble fert, my plants will look the same as your photo when I don't keep up the fertilizing program at the end of the season. Ironically, these plants produce the best tasting tomatoes of the season. Go figure.

[VC Scott]

Steve:

Thanks, I will give it a try.

[Honeysuckle Farm]

I have a variety of plants with the same condition (sadly among other conditions)... please keep us updated if you find out what this is.

[RayR]

It certainly looks like phosphorus deficiency.
The Mortgage Lifters are planted in 100% decomposed granite? How deep? Have you done this before?
I would think decomposed granite would be more suited for plants that are drought tolerant and have low nutrient requirements. Tomatoes aren't like that.
Decomposed granite is like gravel or sand, it doesn't have much of any Cation Exchange Capacity to hold nutrients. You can fertilize all you want, but it just leeches out.

[VC Scott]

Originally Posted by RayR

It certainly looks like phosphorus deficiency.
The Mortgage Lifters are planted in 100% decomposed granite? How deep? Have you done this before?
I would think decomposed granite would be more suited for plants that are drought tolerant and have low nutrient requirements. Tomatoes aren't like that.
Decomposed granite is like gravel or sand, it doesn't have much of any Cation Exchange Capacity to hold nutrients. You can fertilize all you want, but it just leeches out.

I haven't planted anything in this location before. This is about the only place on my property that doesn't have at least some top soil over the DG. The spot was chosen because it gets the most sun in the winter and I was trying to get a head start. The trench was dug two feet deep and two feet wide. I did supplement the soil with 50 pounds of composted horse manure, some well aged manure and peat moss. I think there is definitely a nutrient uptake issue here. Watering may also be an issue because the DG drains so quickly. However, increasing water doesn't seem to help.

The plants continue to look rather sad, but are still setting fruit. The plants in the main garden are doing much better and are further along, even though planted in March/April. So much for trying to get a head start.

I may just pull these because in their weak state they may be more susceptible to disease.

[Heritage]

Scott, glad to hear the main garden is doing well even if the DG plants aren't thriving. Maybe next year try some "in-ground" (pots w/potting soil buried in the DG) for that early crop.

Hope your main crop is a huge success!

Steve

[babice]

Hello VC Scott - can you give an update on the condition of these plants and what you did, etc? I'm having the same issue. I do plan to do a soil test to see what it says about phosporous. I feel certain that the leaf curl I'm seeing on my toms are due to the 2 week record-setting heat wave we just came out of and is, hopefully, just physiological leaf curl. But, I also now see some purplish vein coloring developing underneath some of the leaves. So - I'm curious to know if you did the trench and feed and what the results were, etc.

[VC Scott]

Originally Posted by babice

Hello VC Scott - can you give an update on the condition of these plants and what you did, etc? I'm having the same issue. I do plan to do a soil test to see what it says about phosporous. I feel certain that the leaf curl I'm seeing on my toms are due to the 2 week record-setting heat wave we just came out of. But, I also now see some purplish vein coloring developing underneath some of the leaves. So - I'm curious to know if you did the trench and feed and what the results were, etc.

Extra water and regular doses of Miracle Grow helped. It seems the DG soil simply drains extremely fast. I added peat moss on planting these toms, but apparently not enough. The Mortgage Lifters produced a lot of fruit, but it was small. Then I broke my leg and was not able to get to this part of the yard. My son has helped keep things going, but I have had him concentrate on the main field, so I am sure these toms are dead by now.