Pics of Broccs with tomatoes, not compatible

**llama momma** 10/4/2012, 3:43 pm

In my learning curve I missed where broccs and tomatoes are not good companions. All the broccs were planted the same day. But the ones on the right side are next door to tomatoes and stunningly so much smaller, like half the size of the others.
Or else something weird is going on in the soil on that side? :scratch:
Pics of Broccs with tomatoes, not compatible Oct_4_10

Pics of Broccs with tomatoes, not compatible Oct_4_10

Here is another view:
Pics of Broccs with tomatoes, not compatible Oct_4_11

All the broccs on the left side have started little heads, zippo for the ones on the right side.

CapeCoddess 10/4/2012, 4:17 pm

VERY interesting! Thanks for sharing this.

I noticed that my carrots don't love my tomatoes, even though there's a book saying that they do. *shrug*

CC

**camprn** 10/4/2012, 4:49 pm

It is quite possible that the tomato roots are infiltrating the same area as the broccoli roots and using the nutrition found there. Have you fed these stunted broccoli plants?

**llama momma** 10/4/2012, 5:08 pm

All the transplants got fresh compost when I planted on Aug. 18. Then two weeks ago everything got manure tea. I also wondered about the tomato roots that you mentioned. But I thought I ripped most if not all of those out when I planted the broccs. Perhaps all it takes is a few tom roots to wreck the broccs. I think I'll make an aerated souped up compost + worm castings tea tonight and try watering with that tomorrow.

mollyhespra 10/4/2012, 5:11 pm

Weird--how about shade? Are the toms shading those few squares now that the sun is lower in the sky?

**llama momma** 10/4/2012, 5:13 pm

Thanks but all the toms are on the north side.

southern gardener 10/4/2012, 7:04 pm

I looked up a "companion guide", and sure enough, they don't like each other. Your garden sure looks like good proof! I'm wondering if you can pull the small broccoli and re plant somewhere else? They look so nice and green, it would be a shame to lose those nice plants.

Here's a link to the guide: http://landshareco.org/got-questions/companion-plants/

ryan 10/4/2012, 11:38 pm

That good to know, weird, thanks for posting the picture!

landarch 10/5/2012, 9:45 pm

I pulled up my tomato plants a few weeks ago and found that the roots grew south under the next 2 rows of squares...although the plants in those squares did just fine.

**camprn** 10/5/2012, 10:18 pm

LM, what was planted in the squares the small broc plants are in? Everything I have read says that the broccoli has an effect on tomatoes, not the other way round. Interesting.

landarch 10/6/2012, 12:21 am

could they be getting shaded-out by each successive row of broccoli?

**llama momma** 10/6/2012, 12:51 am

camprn wrote:LM, what was planted in the squares the small broc plants are in? Everything I have read says that the broccoli has an effect on tomatoes, not the other way round. Interesting.

Camp, that is interesting. Previously those were solid squares of : carrots, basil, lettuce, marigolds, beets.
Today I watered everything by hand with a mix of compost and worm castings. This evening it rained some also. Maybe this will help turn things around.
Landarch: Double checked today and the bigger stuff is not tall enough to shade out the others.
southern gardener: I could move 6 of the 8 affected plants to other open squares. Having fertilized today I am hoping to see a change for the better. If not then I have your option to consider.
Thanks a bunch everyone, I'll post an update.

mollyhespra 10/6/2012, 10:36 am

This is a really interesting question...OK, so what about this hypothesis: broc & toms need a lot of calcium, right? So what about supplementing your feeding with extra calcium? The fertilizer you just added may do the trick, but just in case, is there anything you could add (ground up eggshell tea, maybe) to the soil next to both the brocs and the toms as a backup?

HTH!

**llama momma** 10/6/2012, 10:57 am

mollyhespra
I put a lot of ground eggshells in with my worms. When I emptied the diluted worm castings and regular compost I noticed the bottom of the container had maybe a couple teaspoons of ground shells. Even though I stirred before filling each cup of solution. Anyway I took the leftover bits and spread it around. I have plenty more fresh ground eggshells on hand too. I could scratch it in around the stunted plants. Thanks a bunch!

mollyhespra 10/6/2012, 11:06 am

llama momma wrote:mollyhespra
I put a lot of ground eggshells in with my worms. When I emptied the diluted worm castings and regular compost I noticed the bottom of the container had maybe a couple teaspoons of ground shells. Even though I stirred before filling each cup of solution. Anyway I took the leftover bits and spread it around. I have plenty more fresh ground eggshells on hand too. I could scratch it in around the stunted plants. Thanks a bunch!

Not just the stunted plants, though...if the toms are stealing nutrients from the broc, then the toms need the nutrients possibly more than the brocs, since the other squares of broc seem to be doing fine.

Keep us posted! I had planned on putting brocs next to toms in next year's garden & now I'm not so sure.

**llama momma** 10/6/2012, 12:10 pm

Yes, I'll go ahead and put some crushed shells around the toms too. Not sure how much good it will do since the plants are past their prime. Still, it might help.

Thought of something else, I called the nursery to see if they sold two varieties of broccs, maybe a plant tag was switched and therefore different plant vigor? They assured me they sold 'premium crop' and nothing else.

greatgranny 10/6/2012, 12:58 pm

This is what I have used for companion knowledge.

http://www.organicgardening.com/sites/all/themes/zen/og/pdf/companion.pdf

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/hort/info/vegetables/companion.htm

Both suggest an problem regarding cabbage family and tomato.

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Pics of Broccs with tomatoes, not compatible

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Re: Pics of Broccs with tomatoes, not compatible

Re: Pics of Broccs with tomatoes, not compatible

Re: Pics of Broccs with tomatoes, not compatible

Re: Pics of Broccs with tomatoes, not compatible

Re: Pics of Broccs with tomatoes, not compatible

Re: Pics of Broccs with tomatoes, not compatible

Re: Pics of Broccs with tomatoes, not compatible

Re: Pics of Broccs with tomatoes, not compatible

Re: Pics of Broccs with tomatoes, not compatible

Re: Pics of Broccs with tomatoes, not compatible

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Re: Pics of Broccs with tomatoes, not compatible


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