Dr. Jeckal and Mr. Hyde tomato plant.

okay i have a tomato plant that just has me baffled beyond belief. the other day I was out working in the garden and I noticed a tomato plant that was looking alittle rough, no big deal I thought I have 7 more plants that if I loose one its not going to make me all to sad, but I wanted to try and save him if I could. I gave him alittle extra water that night and when I came out the next morning to go to work I check on him and he had bounced back and looked great. Perfect, I fixed the problem, well when I came home from work for lunch I check on him and he was all wilted over and the stem and everything felt rubbery and soft. So I gave him another shot of water and went back to work. When I came home he was back to his strong firm self and looked as though nothing had ever been wrong. The next morning he was all wilted and soft again, so another shot of water. Lunch time came and it was strong as could be, after work, wilted and soft.

It has been doing this for the past 4 or 5 days, I don't understand it. The emotional roller-coaster that this plant is taking me on is crazy. I am thinking about just pulling him up and saying the heck with it. Anyone know whats going on?

I don't have a clue if the other toms are in the same box and doing fine.

the other ones seem to be doing okay and so do the peppers.

It is a mystery. I am sure the others here will have an idea or two.

Is it possible it has an air pocket around its roots that could be causing the rapid drying out? Have you noticed any evidence of underground critters (or even an anthill close by) that may indicate something leaving tunnels or air space too close to the roots?

GG

Goosegirl wrote:Is it possible it has an air pocket around its roots that could be causing the rapid drying out? Have you noticed any evidence of underground critters (or even an anthill close by) that may indicate something leaving tunnels or air space too close to the roots?

GG

I have noticed anything but I will definitely take a look and see if I can press the mix around it a bit tighter and see what happens.

Here ya go same kind of thing...

Time laps Tomatoes take note of the day in the left bottom corner and the watering
note in the right bottom corner.

Enjoy the dance of the tomatoes!

Howdy:

When you planted the tomato was it in a peat pot? If so had the roots started breaking throgh the pot? It could be that a whole peat pot would not hold a large amount of water and the plant roots may have not reached out into the surrounding soil. Just a thought.

God Bless, Ward and Mary.

WardinWake wrote:Howdy:

When you planted the tomato was it in a peat pot? If so had the roots started breaking throgh the pot? It could be that a whole peat pot would not hold a large amount of water and the plant roots may have not reached out into the surrounding soil. Just a thought.

God Bless, Ward and Mary.

no it was grown in MM straight from my bed.

Funny you should mention peat pots Ward, because I was wondering if there might be a pocket of peat that didn't get broken up thoroughly that is repelling water. Didn't want to mention it as it seem far fetched, but nothing else has made sense either. Obviously, the tomato is not holding enough water at its roots to last the entire day.

My son has 1 square in one of the pond beds that repeated replantings of cantaloupe has had no germination. The rest of the bed is doing great. We call it the ALIEN BLACK HOLE.

Kay

walshevak wrote:Funny you should mention peat pots Ward, because I was wondering if there might be a pocket of peat that didn't get broken up thoroughly that is repelling water. Didn't want to mention it as it seem far fetched, but nothing else has made sense either. Obviously, the tomato is not holding enough water at its roots to last the entire day.

My son has 1 square in one of the pond beds that repeated replantings of cantaloupe has had no germination. The rest of the bed is doing great. We call it the ALIEN BLACK HOLE.

Kay

that is a very very good possibility. How do I fix it, I don't really wanna go digging around the plants roots but I wanna make sure that the plant is getting what it needs.

Try soaking that square really heavy, then 20 minutes later do it again. And check out the 2 liter bottle spikes that Farmer Valerie is using. Then after the season, stir up that square really good with its trowel full of blended compost to get it ready for the next go round. If a peat pocket is the problem, that will mix it all up again. Just an opinion, not a definate solution.

You just may have to pay more attention to that plant this year.

Kay

Here is a picture of my water stakes.



Here is where I got them, I have a store nearby, but you can order online if you dont's.
http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-watering-cone-set-93182.html