Tomato plant question

[Admin]

My tomato plants are looking kinda sparce this year. They have tomatos on them but the plants themselves are looking sparce and spindly. Last year they were full and the tomato patch looked like a jungle. We've given them a few shots of miricle grow this summer and it perks them up but they just don't look right. We've been having tons of rain here, almost every day for two weeks. Any idea what would make them look so poor?

[badger]

That's a good question Jc. It could be the the seed stock you started with, It could be the dirt doesn't have enough nutrients for the plants. "Miracle Grow" will spruce the heck out of plants and not help the actual fruit. If the bottom of the plants are turning yellow and dying, they might be getting too much water, wich you can't control. It helps to rotate your veggies around the garden every year also.

This is a hard one to answer, too many veriables.
Post some pics, and do a search on the condition of your plants. I love the internet for the info that is available. It is like having a library at your finger tips!

[wrightbrothers]

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A soil PH test Available from garden centers or agway will "probably" tell you that you need lime. You want the soil PH to be slightly acidic, between 6.5 and 7, for "most" home gardening. Most soil East of the big muddy is highly acidic and the addition of lime in the fall helps this. When PH is not suitable for desired plants, the soil will not release the nutriants to the plants very well.

A complete soil test from your County Ag Extension office will tell you a lot about what your soil is lacking or has too much of, PH, and its structure. They are cheap, give recomendations, and have easy to follow instructions.

If you water shallow with Miricle grow, roots will develop shallow, then plants will starve in dry weather. Chem lawn has the same effect. I believe that stuff dose more harm than good. Too much octane lol.

Like Badger said, lots of variables.

A soil test would be a good starting point.

[Admin]

Thanks Last year we had a banner crop of tomatos, this year the plants just aren't looking good. Threre's maters on them but the plants just aren't full of leaves like normal. The rest of the vegies are doing well. The beans are producing bucket fulls and the broccoli is just about ready to pick too. The only difference between this year and last year has been the abundance of rain. It's going to start raining here again any minute Been raining almost every day for two weeks

[brunner]

JC, I don't think to much water is the issue. We've been getting a ton here also and our tomato plants are like you said yours were last year "a jungle". I'd test your soil.

[mike692]

I have the same problem with two beds of tomatoes this year JC.
I'm sure it's a soil problem. I didn't amend the soil like I should have before I planted them. I think that they may have been 'root bound' as well, because I left them in the trays too long.

[Admin]

I'll have to do a ph test. We extended that garden quite a bit this year, about doubled the size. Perhaps the dirt I brought in wasn't as good as where we had them growing last year.

[timwilcox]

By chance are the tomato's planted in the same exact area where they were last year ? I always try to rotate my veggies from year to year. 1 thing I did this year that made a huge difference was add some 10/10/10 & then till it into the ground. I was told another good thing to do is to add Lime in the fall & let the snow push it into the soil. Think I'm going to try this after everything is picked, I'll till up the garden & spead some lime before snow flies.

[Admin]

Sort of yes and no on that. I doubled the size of the garden this year - the tomatoes are in the same garden but it's hard to remember exactly where they were planted last year. I've heard that a lot of people are having the same results with their tomatoes as we are having. Maybe it's the lack of rain.

[timwilcox]

Dunno about lack of rain JC, my tomato's are doing the best they have in years. I'd bet money it's due to having the plants in the same (or close by) area to where they were planted last year. I know it's not a good idea to plant tomato's in the same soil each year.

[Admin]

Guess I'll be puting the maters in another spot next year. Thanks bud