Tips for growing tomatoes

Got this info today from the Master Gardeners and I thought I would pass it along.

Q. - I have a recurring problem with my tomato plants. They do really well until they start fruiting and then they start dying. THe oldest parts begin to turn brown and gradually the whole plant turns brown with just the fruit remaining on the branches. Any advice?

A. - The damage you describe is typically due to the tomato russet mite, Aculops lycopersici, and is a common problem in our warm climate. The damage starts at the ground level and moves up on the stems and leaves. The mites suck cell contents, first from the stems and leaves and later from the fruit. The stems and lower leaves dry out and turn brownish or bronze in color, then die. The mites are too small to be visible to the unaided eye.

Recommended controls, acceptable for organically certified crops, are sulfur dust and sprays. Apply sulfur dust when the winds are calm and wear protective goggles and a mask. Wettable powders are easy to apply with a hose end sprayer. Do not apply in hot weather, i.e., > 90Deg F.

A web search will bring up a lot photos showing the problem and suggested controls.

Hope it helps you! Doreen

Tags: tomatoes

Comment by Rose Ann on June 8, 2010 at 8:52am: Well, this morning as I was watering my tomatoes, I was met by 2 very large horn worms on my yellow pair tomatoe. I picked them off and gave them to my turtle. She really liked them. So there is even a positive to the horn worms. Chickens love them, too. One that I use to have, Henrietta, would come running when I would call out " Where is my pretty girl" she was all excited.
I looked more closely at the tomatoes this am. Maybe I do have rust mites. Good info. I am loving this site, (Thanks Doreen) so much good info and so nice to communicate with fellow gardeners. Thanks so much. Friends appreciated. Want to be my friend?? Great. Bye for now

Comment by Rose Ann on June 9, 2010 at 10:17am: Hi fellow tomatoe growers. I have just read my latest Organic Gardening newsletter and a great article on growing tomatoes. Here is the link http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s1-5-16-248,00.html
That should get it for you. I didn't find any hornworms this am, the article said to check them before destroying them to see if the parasite had laid eggs in them, said it looks like a grain of rice. If that is the case, leave them to produce more of the beneficals. This article covers about everything, so hope that you find it helpful.

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