Tomato Plants Looking Awful

[AlittleSalt]

Yesterday I watered all the tomato plants that I have in cells and solo cups. I brought them in overnight because it was cold (<40F) I put them out today to get sun. There's a playful 10-15 mph breeze with a high temp of around 70F.

I've been planting tomatoes in our main garden today. Then I noticed that these look awful now. I potted them up in Pennington Professional Potting Mix. 3 weeks ago, I mixed that mix with half strength MG, and have bottom watered with plain tap water since. Oh, and I used new cups to pot them up in.

Could it be that I over-watered them?

The wind?

Other?

[Worth1]

Have you been protecting these plants from the wind up until today?
If so it looks like wind burn.
I dont think you over watered them because I have tried to drown mine a few times and all it does is stunt growth.
I also dont think it is over fertilizer because I looked at the label on line and it has hardly anything in it.

Worth

[AlittleSalt]

I have put them outside about half the time they've been in potting cups, but I take them in on 20+mph wind days. They'll be outside day and night for the next few days at least.


The ones I'm planting in the ground look much better.

[Worth1]

I think they will make it they will just look ratty for a while.
The reason for the wind idea is the effected areas are on the ends of the long leaves where they were flapping.
I may be totally wrong.
How did you mix what kind of MG with your soil may I ask.
Worth

[Deborah]

I'm giggling. Not in a mean way, it's just that I haven't heard anyone say "ratty" in years. I'm putting that back in my vocabulary!

[AlittleSalt]

I used the 18-18-21 Tomato MG. I mixed it in a plastic gallon picture that I only use for watering plants (Although it is a tea picture) Just like you would mix up kool aid minus the sugar.

[AlittleSalt]

Originally Posted by Deborah

I'm giggling. Not in a mean way, it's just that I haven't heard anyone say "ratty" in years. I'm putting that back in my vocabulary!

Deborah, if someone gives you a ratty looking rabbit - you now have a name for it

[clkeiper]

It looks like wind damage to me. I would say cut off the wilted ratty leaves and leave the rest to regrow from the central leader. pretty sure they will be okay. just let them harden off

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

I used the 18-18-21 Tomato MG. I mixed it in a plastic gallon picture that I only use for watering plants (Although it is a tea picture) Just like you would mix up kool aid minus the sugar.

So you just watered them with it then ok.

I can tell you I have been keeping my plants going with full strength in the gallon pots with about 1.5 ounces (a whiskey shot) it in each one.
I do NOT water them with it thoroughly at any time.
With the plants your size it would be half that.

Worth

[Gerardo]

Perhaps they need to dry out some. Take out one or two and make sure it hasn't gone anaerobic. You could probably mix in some drier and/or more neutral soil if you feel like doing something.

"Pond Starter" with a big fish on the label at Wal-Mart, 7 bucks or so and it does 2,000 gallons. AquaSafe is another option. With a 5 ml syringe you can be accurate and stretch it. Helps my newborns.

You'll steer them right in no time.

PS wind sounds feasible too.

PS2 BBQ Skewers are awesome for children that size.

[Deborah]

Salt, good idea!

[UFXEFU]

How much sun have these plant been subjected to before today and how long have they been in direct sun today? Did they look good when you put them out today? Looks like sun and wind damage to me, but I'm an amateur.

Bb

[AlittleSalt]

Originally Posted by Gerardo

Perhaps they need to dry out some. Take out one or two and make sure it hasn't gone anaerobic. You could probably mix in some drier and/or more neutral soil if you feel like doing something.

"Pond Starter" with a big fish on the label at Wal-Mart, 7 bucks or so and it does 2,000 gallons. AquaSafe is another option. With a 5 ml syringe you can be accurate and stretch it. Helps my newborns.

You'll steer them right in no time.

PS wind sounds feasible too.

PS2 BBQ Skewers are awesome for children that size.

Gerardo, I have checked for them turning anaerobic. Everything looks good. I appreciate you reminding me to look. I have some Start Right that I use in our 29 Gallon aquarium. Oh wait, it says Active Ingredients: Sodium Chloride, Aloe Vera, polyvinylpyridine. (Who makes up these words?)

I think it's the wind too. I need to quit babying my tomato plants so much.

[Worth1]

Make sure the little ones know it is poison in the tea pitcher and not kool aid.

Had a kid at the play ground back in the 60's where I lived died from drinking what he thought was Kool Aid.
Turn out to be fertilizer.

Worth

[carolyn137]

I've had flats of plants already hardened off sitting on the old wheelbarrow, the flat bed one with the single iron wheel in the front,waiting to be set out and more than once when the temps dip at night in the AM when I look at them they are all wilted down,and no,not a matter of too dry,just the reverse,too wet.

Cold and wet do not like each other.

I put them in the shade and they come around with time.

And not windburn either since one can see the white areas on the foliage if it's just plain ole windburn,almost the same for sunburn except sunburn lesions have a yellow tint to them.

Carolyn