Tomato die back, have I found the answer? (forum)

snottiegobble starts with ...
Again I grew tomato seedlings & bought Grosslisse in punnets, planted into pots, & again they all succumbed to whatever the hell it is in Sth west WA. However a self sown yellow pear variety decided to reach for the sky amongst the foliage of a very strong scented (lemon) pelagonium. Wouldnt have thought ideal conditions, but the tomato plant is still there tied up & now 2 m high still producing lots of fruit! So I am wondering if the essential oils in the pelargonium are acting as a deterrent.What do you think??

Time: 8th February 2012 5:28pm

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About the Author snottiegobble
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Julie says...
Dunno about the geranium sg, but the best producing tomato in my garden is a self-sown yellow cherry, growing in very sandy soil.

They are really tough toms, and a friend of mine nearby has had the same experience. Frustrating when the neglected plants do better than the pampered ones!

Time: 8th February 2012 8:37pm

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About the Author Julie
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amanda says...
I agree there Julie..I have these self sowing broad ripple yellow currants and nothing phases them at all. Even F/fly don't touch them.

SG...maybe I could send u some seed of my tough guys? I have never had die back...so either the soil is clean or these guys are resistant?

Email me with some types u have tried and we can maybe compare notes? :)

(I can't grow beefsteak types here though..it's too hot for them..)

Time: 9th February 2012 12:10am

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Original Post was last edited: 9th February 2012 12:11am

About the Author amanda19
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snottiegobble says...
Thank you ladies! 3 years ago I was all full of enthusiasm growing heirlooms from Diggers, but they had the least resistance, pity cos they tasted delicious, large pink orange & yellow!
Tom Thumbs & tommytoes get so far into the season before they succumb & grosse lisse which I planted around my banana lasted the longest with 3 or 4 healthy fruit per plant. Funny at the time, but my gardening nextdoor neighbour told me he gave up trying to grow toms long before we moved here! Not funny now of course!
I even tried bio-fumigant mustard greens dug in in case of nematodes, but still no luck! New greenhouse, new potting mix, new pots, but same results so it must be airborne!!

Time: 9th February 2012 4:25pm

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grub says...
gidday snottie
i had die back 2 years in a row on my tomatoes,,done my head in,i also had heirlooms ,an old itailian man told me to get my bore water checked for ph i found out it was 8.5 i put them on dripper instead of a sprinkler ..havnt had it since could be just a Coincidences but you never no..

Time: 9th February 2012 4:37pm

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Julie says...
grub, you could well be right,as tomatoes like a slightly acid soil. Mine were doing terribly till I checked the pH and found it too low.

I added iron sulphate and after a week or so the new growth was much greener, and they made more flowers. Eventually I cut all the old growth off - the plants look really healthy now.

Time: 9th February 2012 10:21pm

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About the Author Julie
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snottiegobble says...
hey Julie, dont you mean too high? Anyway thanks guys , I am going to try sulphate of ammonia ( thats all I have). Will let you know how I go!

Time: 10th February 2012 8:14pm

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About the Author snottiegobble
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Julie says...
Probably, sg. Dunno what I was thinking! Too alkaline anyway. A pH testing kit is a very useful thing to have.

Time: 10th February 2012 9:48pm

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About the Author Julie
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grub says...
yes snottie i forgot i had to apply this 3 times of a few months to drop my ph by 2 pionts here a link i found help full
http://www.savvygardener.com/Features/soil_ph.html

Time: 10th February 2012 10:46pm

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Julie says...
The link doesn't mention iron sulphate, but I found it quick and effective.

Time: 11th February 2012 8:19pm

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About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
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