Tomato Problems

I have got the same problem this year has i had last year although my toms are still green they are going soft and and browny/white colour around the spikey that the tom joins the plant, i have asked one or two keen gardeners what the problem might be and they dont seem to know,anyone on the forum got any ideas and how to treat it.
cheers

 

A photo would be of great help shimsham. Are your toms under glass or outdoors?
The only things I can think of given the info you've posted are -
Ghost Spot - caused by grey mould spores. Increase ventilation and avoid splashing fruit when watering.
Sun Scald - most often forms on the side of the fruit facing sun. Shade the greenhouse.
Blight - tends to be a more overall coverage and unlikely to occur under glass. No effective cure.

 

Hi Dave.Thanks for that,first of all i have a digital camera but i dont know how to load photos onto the forum,out of the 3 options you gave me i tend to think it could be ghost spot i hade it last year it spread to the stems and it looked very much like grey dust when it got a good hold of the plants and the toms.

 

There is some research, not conclusive at present, that suggests that a 10% milk solution is effective at preventing/reducing the effects of botrytis. I was bothered with botrytis on cucumbers for a few years, but like John used the now unobtainable Benlate to contol it. When I couldn't get Benlate I gave the milk solution a try and found that it did seem to work (it is also supposed to provide a nutrient effect). I've also reduced the number of toms and cucs in the greenhouse in order to improve air circulation which is helping too.

 

Hi Dave.As John suggested i might have to many plants, i bought a new greenhouse this year a 6ft x10ft high eaves and i have 13 tom plants and 6 peppers,When you say you add 10% milk solution is that added to tomorite or just 10% of water.

 

Found 2 toms on the floor this morning think they have dropped off in the night as the fruit seem to be rotting around the spikey bit that tom comes from, been down to the local nursery and he told me to dissect one and have a look for a grub so i did and there was not one present.I have looked through a friends greenhouse book but it is not ghost spot and just seems they are rotting around the spikey bit.

 

Are the leaves OK? Healthy looking? No brown patches and/or black patches on the stems?

If the leaves / stems are healthy I think that would rule out blight.

 

You make up a solution of 10% milk in water, add it to a hand sprayer and spray on the leaves. You need to repeat it about once a week. I've lost the links to the web sites I found the info on, but if you try Googling for 'milk as a fungicide' you'll find more info.

I'd say that 13 toms in a 6x10 greenhouse is a bit ambitious. I used to grow 9 plus 3 cucs in my 12 x 8 but have cut back now to 6 toms and 2 cucs and the plants have been a lot healthier and there is still enough space for our son to grow peppers in pots on the shelf.

 

Hi Dave.Thanks for that yes it might be a bit ambitious with 13 but its my only second year growing toms so i have to learn along the way.I have just recently bought a new digital camera but i cant seem to get my pc to pair up with it thats another problem,but if you look straight down on the tom over the spikey bit it looks like there is a ring around the top of tom around the spikey bit if you touch it it is all soft and it is a brown/greyish colour but cut one open today but there is no foul smell.
I am going to keep trying to load some photos onto the forum so you can see for yourself as its noy easy to explain.
Colin

 

13 doesn't sound too bad to me - 6 down each side (18" spacing) and an extra one at the end will provide generous spacing across the width.

A picture would help if you can if you can find a spotty youngster to sort it out for you :D

 

Hi Kristen.Not to cleaver with downloading photos onto this website can you tell me an easy way of doing it.
Colin

 

The "Stickies" at the top of http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php/frequently-asked-questions-32.html may help

 

hi Kristen, I have sent photos of my problem tomatos on attachment - I hope!!! Shimsham

 

Photos are there, well done! But I'm afraid I don't know what it is. Hopefully someone who recognises it will be along shortly ...