Can someone help me diagnose the issue with my transplants?

Stainless · April 21, 2015

I planted these a few weeks ago because they had outgrown their cups. I planted them in potting mix from the 5.1.1 method. Added just a little compost to the mix. We've had fairly warm days and cooler nights. Most nights averaging in the 50's. The leaves are turning yellow and this is happening on many different varieties. We have had lots of rain but these containers should be draining fairly good.

Any suggestions? I thought about some sort of foliage fert but don't want to make it worse.

Worth1 · April 21, 2015

Is that charcoal in the containers?

One I think your nights are a little cold and that is why they are purple.

Can you show a picture of the whole plant?

Worth

Stainless · April 21, 2015

No charcoal. Here are some more pics. These plants are planted deep too. They got too tall so I clipped the lower branches and planted them deep.

heirloomtomaguy · April 21, 2015

Im going to say lack of fertilizer and a slight case of sunburn

Worth1 · April 21, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by heirloomtomaguy

Im going to say lack of fertilizer and a slight case of sunburn

I think you are right and with a little warmer weather and warmer nights they should jump right out of it.
I have had plant look like this and they did just fine.

Thanks for adding the photos Stainless.

Worth

Stainless · April 21, 2015

I was thinking about hitting them with some epsom salt spray.. think it would hurt it?

Worth1 · April 21, 2015

I cant help you there I have never used the stuff in my life.
Worth

Stvrob · April 21, 2015

One thing to double check....since the buckets are buried deep drainage could still be a problem regardless of the soil inside the bucket if the soil outside the bucket is clayey and saturated. You could probably lift one out and see if its wet under the bucket.

heirloomtomaguy · April 21, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stvrob

One thing to double check....since the buckets are buried deep drainage could still be a problem regardless of the soil inside the bucket if the soil outside the bucket is clayey and saturated. You could probably lift one out and see if its wet under the bucket.

Good call Stvrob. I also would not hit them with epsom salt just use a well balanced fertilizer.

UFXEFU · April 21, 2015

Stainless,
What size and how many drain holes in the buckets? Have you used this bucket method in the past?

Cole_Robbie · April 21, 2015

This:
http://i.imgur.com/n60OpqY.jpg

is something eating your plants.

Gardeneer · April 21, 2015

As I can see in the last pictures your plants are NOT deficient in fertilizer. The new growth look dark green
Only the lower leaves are yellow. I would trim them anyway since they are too close to the soil and they will not recover .
5-1-1 mix should have pretty good drainage but I cannot tell how burying them can compromise drainage especially IF you get a lot of rain.

About Epsom Salt:
Most (if not all) fertilizers have the needed magnesium and some have also calcium that tomatoes need.
Did you add Dolomitic lime to your mix ? 5-1-1 mix has a low pH, probably around 6. So the dolomitic lime or gypsum can raise it somewhat.

On Night Temps:
Night lows in 50f is not too cold at all for tomatoes. I have mine in mid to low 40F . and it will continue like that til the end of may and will stay under 50F. That is how it has been in 2013, 14.

Gardeneer

RayR · April 22, 2015

What Gardener said.
Not enough information to tell what the problem is. They are looking stressed, the question is what is causing the stress?
How cool are the night temperatures? Most importantly what is the soil temperature?
What fertilizers used if any? Any purpling under the leaves? (it looks like there is on the right hand photo)

KarenO · April 22, 2015

I think they look cold. Don't randomly add things, the soil that deep down is cold. They will likely sit and sulk their purplish sulk until it warms up. Fertilize once they start visibly growing.
Best wishes
KarenO

BigVanVader · April 22, 2015

The area Cole highlighted looks like it may be aphid damage...Im no expert but you could check with a magnifying glass. My transplants had some lower leaves look like that and it was aphids. I just squish them at the start, once your plants get growing good they will be fine IMO.

April 21, 2015	#1
Stainless Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Fort Smith, AR Posts: 86	Can someone help me diagnose the issue with my transplants? I planted these a few weeks ago because they had outgrown their cups. I planted them in potting mix from the 5.1.1 method. Added just a little compost to the mix. We've had fairly warm days and cooler nights. Most nights averaging in the 50's. The leaves are turning yellow and this is happening on many different varieties. We have had lots of rain but these containers should be draining fairly good. Any suggestions? I thought about some sort of foliage fert but don't want to make it worse. Last edited by Stainless; April 21, 2015 at 08:10 PM.

April 21, 2015	#4
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	Im going to say lack of fertilizer and a slight case of sunburn __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

April 21, 2015	#12
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,916	As I can see in the last pictures your plants are NOT deficient in fertilizer. The new growth look dark green Only the lower leaves are yellow. I would trim them anyway since they are too close to the soil and they will not recover . 5-1-1 mix should have pretty good drainage but I cannot tell how burying them can compromise drainage especially IF you get a lot of rain. About Epsom Salt: Most (if not all) fertilizers have the needed magnesium and some have also calcium that tomatoes need. Did you add Dolomitic lime to your mix ? 5-1-1 mix has a low pH, probably around 6. So the dolomitic lime or gypsum can raise it somewhat. On Night Temps: Night lows in 50f is not too cold at all for tomatoes. I have mine in mid to low 40F . and it will continue like that til the end of may and will stay under 50F. That is how it has been in 2013, 14. Gardeneer Last edited by Gardeneer; April 23, 2015 at 10:01 PM.

April 21, 2015	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Is that charcoal in the containers? One I think your nights are a little cold and that is why they are purple. Can you show a picture of the whole plant? Worth

April 21, 2015	#8
Stvrob Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 1,413	One thing to double check....since the buckets are buried deep drainage could still be a problem regardless of the soil inside the bucket if the soil outside the bucket is clayey and saturated. You could probably lift one out and see if its wet under the bucket.

April 21, 2015	#10
UFXEFU Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Gloster, Lousiana 71030 Zone 8a Posts: 253	Stainless, What size and how many drain holes in the buckets? Have you used this bucket method in the past?

April 21, 2015	#11
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	This: http://i.imgur.com/n60OpqY.jpg is something eating your plants.

April 22, 2015	#13
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	What Gardener said. Not enough information to tell what the problem is. They are looking stressed, the question is what is causing the stress? How cool are the night temperatures? Most importantly what is the soil temperature? What fertilizers used if any? Any purpling under the leaves? (it looks like there is on the right hand photo)

April 22, 2015	#14
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,928	I think they look cold. Don't randomly add things, the soil that deep down is cold. They will likely sit and sulk their purplish sulk until it warms up. Fertilize once they start visibly growing. Best wishes KarenO

April 22, 2015	#15
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	The area Cole highlighted looks like it may be aphid damage...Im no expert but you could check with a magnifying glass. My transplants had some lower leaves look like that and it was aphids. I just squish them at the start, once your plants get growing good they will be fine IMO.