Discussion
BlackZeD said:
Yes grown in my new this year greenhouse. There is a load left in there.
This is my first try at Toms, Cucumbers, Peppers and Chillies in a greenhouse.
Only done spuds and Carrots first time last year.
A couple of pics of the other stuff.
Thank heavens for that. Mines on a patio so a bit behind. This is my first try at Toms, Cucumbers, Peppers and Chillies in a greenhouse.
Only done spuds and Carrots first time last year.
A couple of pics of the other stuff.
OldBuoy said:
dudleybloke said:
Half my plants have got blight on the leaves now.
not pleased.
Ouch.not pleased.
Edited by dudleybloke on Thursday 7th August 14:22
I grew tomatoes in containers outside for several years very successfully. A few self-seeded (via garden compost I suspect) into borders so I left them to see how they did, they did very well. So the next year I planted loads, maybe 50 into the soil in my veg plot with plans to make sun-dried tomatoes, freeze them and all sorts from the bumper crop I was going to get. They all shot up to about 4 feet and I'd tied them to supports and was busy counting unhatched chickens (tomatoes). One Friday evening I spotted a bit of blight on a few leaves, by the Monday the whole lot were brown and withered, didn't get a single tomato. I have haven't bothered trying the last couple of years. Next door grow them in their greenhouse though, so far without incident.
BlackZeD said:
Have been spraying mine with epsom salt solution every week, have been told
it makes a difference, tho not having grown anything before I don't know
Waste of time for blight. Copper based stuff (like Bordeaux which you can still get despite the past/imminent ban) supposedly 'discourages' it but but won't stop it/cure it. Otherwise you need something systemic and there isn't much choice for home gardeners because nearly everything that works has been banned! And as it develops so quickly, ANY treatment has to be preemptive really. So you have to decide what you are willing to eat, and how soon after the last spray.it makes a difference, tho not having grown anything before I don't know
Epsom salt is for magnesium deficiency, which is quite common in tomatoes and causes yellowing of the leaves in between the leaf veins, which can deepen to brown and ultimately the whole leaf will wither and go brown. Apparently it can be exacerbated by over-feeding with high potash fertiliser (such as you'd naturally use for tomatoes).
It is not impossible that dudleybloke's picture of "blight" above is actually the latter stages of magnesium deficiency. Blight is more common in damp conditions, which doesn't fit with the summer we've had. In the picture you can see yellowing in between the veins on many of the leaves. It's either blight or magnesium deficiency.
As Shaolin hints, the key diagnostic will be whether the plants die completely and rapidly (in which case it's blight) or whether they soldier on despite the withered leaves (in which case I favour magnesium deficiency).
It is not impossible that dudleybloke's picture of "blight" above is actually the latter stages of magnesium deficiency. Blight is more common in damp conditions, which doesn't fit with the summer we've had. In the picture you can see yellowing in between the veins on many of the leaves. It's either blight or magnesium deficiency.
As Shaolin hints, the key diagnostic will be whether the plants die completely and rapidly (in which case it's blight) or whether they soldier on despite the withered leaves (in which case I favour magnesium deficiency).
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Saturday 9th August 07:01
Have seen some Bordeaux mixture in a local garden centre, didn't know what it was for.
Might get some if its gonna be banned for some reason.
I have only been spraying with epsom salts as it came with a chilli pack and
I thought if its ok for the chillies they all can have a bit, nowts died yet.
What is Bordeaux mixture by the way? Whats in it and why would it get banned.
Only asking because you said about eating things after being sprayed.
Thanks.
Might get some if its gonna be banned for some reason.
I have only been spraying with epsom salts as it came with a chilli pack and
I thought if its ok for the chillies they all can have a bit, nowts died yet.
What is Bordeaux mixture by the way? Whats in it and why would it get banned.
Only asking because you said about eating things after being sprayed.
Thanks.
It's a traditional remedy, and also a possible bactericide, although it's efficacy in all respects is a bit doubtful. It certainly doesn't cure anything, it may prevent/slow.
Edit, I can't find the exact info. as there has been much talk of its EU ban and then reintroduction of sale a year or 2 ago, I think you are not supposed to use it after 2016, but can't be sure and who cares!
Some people might possibly have noticed Dithane 945 (which is effective but banned) can be sourced in 1/3kg bags (should last you for decades) online and used illegally by private individuals which is of course outrageous and not to be recommended at all.
Edit, I can't find the exact info. as there has been much talk of its EU ban and then reintroduction of sale a year or 2 ago, I think you are not supposed to use it after 2016, but can't be sure and who cares!
Some people might possibly have noticed Dithane 945 (which is effective but banned) can be sourced in 1/3kg bags (should last you for decades) online and used illegally by private individuals which is of course outrageous and not to be recommended at all.
Edited by Mr GrimNasty on Saturday 9th August 20:44
dudleybloke said:
Thanks for the tip on the magnesium deficiency, hopefully that's all it is and I'm increasing the amount of feedings on the affected plants and will see how it goes.
From what I've read, increasing feeding might be counterproductive. Over-feeding with a high potash fertiliser (e.g. tomato feed) causes the plant to absorb the potassium in preference to magnesium. What you need is Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate IIRC), which you dissolve and spray on the leaves as a foliar feed - I think you can also water it in.
If you want, those can be picked now and allowed to complete their ripening off the plant, away from slugs, birds etc. Certainly the top two, and maybe the third one down as well. All the reading I've done says that picking them once they've started to "blush" makes no difference to the flavour.
My plants are running out of steam now, and I probably won't get many more fruit. I sowed them in the second week of January, and picked the first ripe fruit near the beginning of June, so I can't complain! I've suffered numerous breakages of stems and branches, so they need better support next year, and I believe I've also had magnesium deficiency so I'll feed a little less and try Epsom salts as well. And I intend to sow a second round in April or thereabouts so that I've got younger plants to continue fruiting later in the season.
My plants are running out of steam now, and I probably won't get many more fruit. I sowed them in the second week of January, and picked the first ripe fruit near the beginning of June, so I can't complain! I've suffered numerous breakages of stems and branches, so they need better support next year, and I believe I've also had magnesium deficiency so I'll feed a little less and try Epsom salts as well. And I intend to sow a second round in April or thereabouts so that I've got younger plants to continue fruiting later in the season.
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