Garden

[Witchy Woman]

Let me say up front I am not a gardener.  Bad soil and deer have limited my growing to potted tomato plants and a few herbs.

Having said that, this year's crop of potted tomato plants is a big disappointment.

Plants got off to a good start, then leaves yellowed, lots of fruit, now the fruit is dropping off before it ripens.  They are all yellow and red "cherry" tomatoes. 

I did find my resident ground hog dining on the lone patio tomato plant that was supposed to yield medium size fruit.  But, ultimately, it shared the same fate as the other plants.  It flourished, blossomed, set fruit, now the fruit is dropping or just not ripening after it has grown.

I noted a lot of ant activity in and around the huge pots I filled with good quality, commercial potting soil.  I tried to eliminate them early on, but it was futile.  I guess they are nesting under the pots or in the soil.

Nevertheless, I've had success with these tiny tomatoes in the past, so cannot figure what happened.  I went out this morning to pick what was ripe, but there were few.  However, many green ones were off the vine

I suspect it's some kind of mold because of the yellowing leaves with black spots and wilted appearance.

Any thoughts?

[fthunt]

Read your posting but am not an expert either.  My sole cherry is doing great, so far, in a raised garden.  Lots of greenies - hope they ripen as in the past.

Black spots w/yellow leaves often indicates too much water or crowded container of roots.  Black spots = a case of blight - common for tomato plants.

Snipping of green tomatoes - a chipmunk ??   a mouse ??  your ground hog ??   (doubt it's ants - but who knows)

Can you re-pot the plants in new fresh potting soil?    Could be bugs in the dirt you bought......use Miracle Gro - of course.  Tomatoes are heavy feeders so fertilizer every two weeks.

Keep us posted.........................

[Witchy Woman]

@fthunt 

Laughing at the idea of the squirrels up in those plants, but it could be.  Nevertheless, they are leaving the tiny tomatoes behind if that is the case 

No way to repot now...plants are huge.

The soil was Miracle Gro moisture control soil, so it had a good start.  It has been VERY humid, so that might be part of it.

It's just annoying to have spent time and trouble doing all the potting to have them fail.  My husband laughed saying what I spent on these tomatoes, I could have bought a truck load this summer.

I reminded him that was NOT the idea 

[fthunt]

@Witchy Woman Ummm    don't believe I said squirrels.    

Chipmunks - I've been having a war with them.

But now that you mentioned it........squirrels love to snip - tulips, etc.

Perhaps you solved your own problem.

[HLP]

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@Witchy Woman wrote:

@fthunt 

Laughing at the idea of the squirrels up in those plants, but it could be.  Nevertheless, they are leaving the tiny tomatoes behind if that is the case 

No way to repot now...plants are huge.

The soil was Miracle Gro moisture control soil, so it had a good start.  It has been VERY humid, so that might be part of it.

It's just annoying to have spent time and trouble doing all the potting to have them fail.  My husband laughed saying what I spent on these tomatoes, I could have bought a truck load this summer.

I reminded him that was NOT the idea 

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I planted one tomato, it's a pear shaped little one, not cherry. Put it in a big pot, Sat it on a 4 foot stool, and it is full of tomatoes. I picked 5 yesterday, made a olive oil ,tomato ,garlic , hot pepper seeds, salt and pepper on low heat sauce, threw in cooked spegitti, covered with cheese, and it was delicious.  I water once a day here as it's been near 90 each day. If you don't raise the pot ,the chipmunks will have them.

[Witchy Woman]

@fthunt 

@HLP 

Well, it could be chipmunks.  There is all manner of wildlife that sneaks around  here while I'm not looking  

Whatever it is, this year's crop is a disappointment.

I've done as much as I can, so I'll just look forward to the summer of 2021...in more ways than one!

[JustJazzmom]

Certain varieties of tomatoes are more prone to diseases than others. Always save the tags for reference in the future.

Here is what we hand out to homeowners or send via e mail:

http://ccenassau.org/resources/tomatoes-growing

http://ccenassau.org/resources/vegetable-varieties-for-the-home

Look on the 2nd link at the tomatoes list and follow the Lettered code on the bottom of the recommended tomatoes to buy.

[luvmyteddy4]

I am finally getting half ripe tomatoes and picking them because the squirrels are climbing my fenced in garden and finding lots of tomatoes on the ground, grrrrrrrr

I put buckets of water around the outside for the birds and squirrels but they don't care.

Next year I will fence the top!

I had so many green tomatoes a few weeks ago and even the tiny ones are disappearing.

[Witchy Woman]

@luvmyteddy4 

I love your shelf display with tomatoes and the stained glass owl and bluebird.  So pretty!

I'm throwing in the towel on tomatoes for this summer.

Most of my plants look like they are on their last legs, but loaded with green tomatoes that get plucked before they ripen.

Odd thing is not all are eaten.

I'm guessing it is squirrels or the groundhog, or even deer that are working their way into the wire coverings.

Did not have this trouble last year at all, but I guess this year the word went out.

The only thing I planted that flourished is mint and my basil.

[luvmyteddy4]

The flowers I got today