Once again I will try to grow some.
Every year I state ‘‘never again” as they always look great but as the fruit sets the plant starts to go brown & the whole plant wilts & dies..It is such an anti climax!
Until 4 years ago we could grow massive healthy plants, but not any more….
We do not use the same place to plant so am unsure why we have this problem
Any tips anyone?
BTW thanks for your reponse
I’m waiting on the end of the frosts… Maybe they are over now…
After doing seven 12 hour nights I decided to get away, so I’ve just had 5 nights in Bali… Cheap as from WA, Bali is closer than Sinny or Melb!
Photos to come..
Should get some seedlings for marties under plastic too myself this week…
G’day Possum.
There are a few ways to slow the effect of the blight from killing your tommies.
Firstly, buy disease resistant plants which you know will grow in your area.
I use Big Beef or Oxheart. I live Nth NSW. Something else may be ideal for you.
Secondly, give them lots of room. At least a square metre of space. A bit more is better.
I’ve found if you cover them from rain, so they never get wet, you’ll increase your chances.
SO make a frame over the plant and put sheet plastic or something over it. Only water the plant at soil level. Keep the leaves dry.
Mulching stops spores from splashing up onto the lower leaves. SO keep it thick, or use a sheet
of matting as a mulch. Shadecloth might do it. I have a sheet of black plastic on the ground around a plant at the moment and it is working well. No blight and the plant is producing fruit.
Prune off the lower leaves, don’t allow any part to touch the soil.
Also, stagger your plantings. Once a plant becomes infected, don’t allow it to produce any more fruit. Just use what is already on it and the next plant will be your next supply.
Excellent drainage is a necessity. Good air circulation also.
The plants need to be thriving and growing quickly. No time for a struggle. Get growing, make fruit, go to the compost bin as quickly as possible. So prepare your soil really well.
SOunds like a lot of extra work but it aint. Just plan well.
Longy said:
G’day Possum.
There are a few ways to slow the effect of the blight from killing your tommies.
Firstly, buy disease resistant plants which you know will grow in your area.
I use Big Beef or Oxheart. I live Nth NSW. Something else may be ideal for you.
Secondly, give them lots of room. At least a square metre of space. A bit more is better.
I’ve found if you cover them from rain, so they never get wet, you’ll increase your chances.
SO make a frame over the plant and put sheet plastic or something over it. Only water the plant at soil level. Keep the leaves dry.
Mulching stops spores from splashing up onto the lower leaves. SO keep it thick, or use a sheet
of matting as a mulch. Shadecloth might do it. I have a sheet of black plastic on the ground around a plant at the moment and it is working well. No blight and the plant is producing fruit.
Prune off the lower leaves, don’t allow any part to touch the soil.
Also, stagger your plantings. Once a plant becomes infected, don’t allow it to produce any more fruit. Just use what is already on it and the next plant will be your next supply.
Excellent drainage is a necessity. Good air circulation also.
The plants need to be thriving and growing quickly. No time for a struggle. Get growing, make fruit, go to the compost bin as quickly as possible. So prepare your soil really well.
SOunds like a lot of extra work but it aint. Just plan well.
Good info in that lot Mr Longfella. I think I might stick to one type of tomato too (black russian) now I have found that it grows well and tastes great. It’s only drawback is that it doesn’t keep as long as the s’market types. Taste for shelf life seems like a good deal to me.
Good lot of info there Longy, thanks.
Roma. Today. This morning.
possum70 said:
Once again I will try to grow some.
Every year I state ‘‘never again” as they always look great but as the fruit sets the plant starts to go brown & the whole plant wilts & dies..It is such an anti climax!
Until 4 years ago we could grow massive healthy plants, but not any more….
We do not use the same place to plant so am unsure why we have this problem
Any tips anyone?
BTW thanks for your reponse
possum, what varieties do you grow? Is it the same time of year that they die off?
colliewa said:
I’m waiting on the end of the frosts… Maybe they are over now… After doing seven 12 hour nights I decided to get away, so I’ve just had 5 nights in Bali… Cheap as from WA, Bali is closer than Sinny or Melb! Photos to come.. Should get some seedlings for marties under plastic too myself this week…
a slight hint of a possible hijack there. dare i ask how bali was … on this thread?
great advice as always longy.
before planting your tomatoes, grow a crop of mustard green manure where you want to plant them, and dig into the soil. This acts as a fumigant against nematodes and such that attack tomatoes.
Tagetes minuta is reputed to repel nematodes. As is digging in a crop of barley green manure.
Grafting onto nematode resistant rootstocks if possible is the way many vineyards and orchards have solved the problem.
roughbarked said:
Tagetes minuta is reputed to repel nematodes. As is digging in a crop of barley green manure.Grafting onto nematode resistant rootstocks if possible is the way many vineyards and orchards have solved the problem.
GM rootstocks eh? who’d a thunk it?
Marigolds are good for nematodes no?
pain master said:
roughbarked said:
Tagetes minuta is reputed to repel nematodes. As is digging in a crop of barley green manure.Grafting onto nematode resistant rootstocks if possible is the way many vineyards and orchards have solved the problem.
GM rootstocks eh? who’d a thunk it?
Marigolds are good for nematodes no?
Tagetes minuta is a marigold.
Nematode resistant rootstocks aren’t necessarily GM. To my knowledge this has not yet become common practice. Usual method is by selection.
roughbarked said:
pain master said:
roughbarked said:
Tagetes minuta is reputed to repel nematodes. As is digging in a crop of barley green manure.Grafting onto nematode resistant rootstocks if possible is the way many vineyards and orchards have solved the problem.
GM rootstocks eh? who’d a thunk it?
Marigolds are good for nematodes no?
Tagetes minuta is a marigold.
Nematode resistant rootstocks aren’t necessarily GM. To my knowledge this has not yet become common practice. Usual method is by selection.
D’oh!
bluegreen said:
before planting your tomatoes, grow a crop of mustard green manure where you want to plant them, and dig into the soil. This acts as a fumigant against nematodes and such that attack tomatoes.
I did that last year and again this year. Seems to be helpful
AnneS said:
bluegreen said:
before planting your tomatoes, grow a crop of mustard green manure where you want to plant them, and dig into the soil. This acts as a fumigant against nematodes and such that attack tomatoes.I did that last year and again this year. Seems to be helpful
good – i’ve done it this year.
i bought ‘big beef’ and ‘black russian’.
so i’ve got a tom spot and will dig big holes about a metre apart and fill them with pigeon poo.
hi anne