tomato plants

tunnelsofhens10 · Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 5:13 pm Post subject: tomato plants

Hi all, Wondering whats happening my young tomato plants, grew them from seed,looked fine and healthy, transplanted them to 3inch peat pots transfered them to the tunnel, placed them into plastic lined boxes, (for watering from below) Had aheating lamp for cold nights, and now? they seem to be growing well but, the underside of the leaves have turned Purple. never had this problem before, Any help please.

michael brenock · Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 10:35 pm Post subject:

This purpling is due to fluctuation of temperatures. Even though you say you have a heater present it is not sufficient to raise the temperature to get them growing satisfactorily. Don't worry about them from now on as the air temperature should be rising. Make sure the soil is free-draining as waterlogging keeps root temperature down. Feed when growing conditions improve.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

tunnelsofhens10 · Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 4:26 pm Post subject:

Thanks Michael, Was worried because I was drawing rainwater from a new IBC, and was nervous the container was contaminated. Will start useing it again. (You just saved me 1000ltrs of the best water on the planet) again thanks. Very Happy

dormouse · Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 8:54 pm Post subject:

Are you using fleece at night? It will help keep them snug through these awful nights.

tunnelsofhens10 · Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 5:36 pm Post subject:

Yes, thanks dormouse, started last week. I now know what the Mammy meant when she said she was blue with the cold! A bit more TLC needed this weather.

yaut · Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 3:41 pm Post subject:

sorry for high jacking your thread but I really didn't want to create new one.

these are my tomato plants in the greenhouse:

as you can see in the pics, the bottom leaves are yellowing and dying off. are they cold too? or what's wrong with them? Is it ok to cut the bottom leaves off? I don't think plants are benefiting from them anyway Sad

I re-planted them into greenhouse on 26th of april.

oh, and not all the things are so sad. look at this:

these early tomato plants went into greenhouse in the middle of march. I expected them to give up but nope, they're doing very well instead. I wished they were my main crop!

michael brenock · Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 5:44 pm Post subject:

The tomato plants look starved lacking Nitrogen in particular as leaves are small and large spaces between leaves, similar symptoms to lack of direct sunlight. Do not overwater them in cold cloudy weather. Feed once a week.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

yaut · Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 9:08 pm Post subject:

thanks for your advice, Micheal. I'll try adding some more tomato fertilizer next time watering (I was adding it before, but probably not enough).and yeah, they were lacking of sun when I started them indoors, small windowsills and too many plants.