Leggy

cdbva · October 30, 2010

My summer was a tomato travesty. First the deer pruned all my lovely plants way down when they were about two feet tall and already had flowers.

I figured out how to fend off the deer (Milorganite and Deer Off).

So all but one plant came back. But they were phenomenally leggy. Octopus-on-adrenaline leggy! There were only a few tomatoes, and most were small.

I'm baffled by the legginess. They were all in full sun.

The eggplant got a little out of control too, come to think of it.

I'm wondering if it had to do with the soil. The plot was previously owned by a man who sold things at a farmers' market. The soil is very dark and soft, easy to turn over. He grew spearmint, among other things.

Might there be too much of something in the soil? Or..? I'm stumped. Any ideas?

Christine

October 30, 2010

Most plants I've seen pruned low by animals come back kinda bushy instead of leggy. Leggy usually indicates low light, but you have already answered that. My guess would be an over abundance of nitrogen in the soil. Excessive nitrogen in my garden usually results in tall plants with a lot of space between fruit sets.

I think excessive nitrogen will simply flash off with time, wear off with successive plantings, or flush off with multiple rains. You can deplete nitrogen from soil by mixing in some fresh sawdust or wood chips. I don't like to do that because it is easy to go the opposite direction and have a nitrogen shortage.

That is only a guess. Someone else may have a better answer.

Ted

b54red · October 31, 2010

It also could be pour soil without enough nutrients available. I occasionally let a volunteer grow up on my fence where it is not tilled and enriched in any way and they are always very leggy and pale.
Have you added compost and manures to your soil? Have you had a soil test?

geeboss · October 31, 2010

Soil Testing link recommended by bohica Then you'll really know what might be the cause and find a workable solution for next season. Let me know if you need anything special for next years tomato planting.

http://www.al-labs-west.com/sections/anservices

George

cdbva · November 2, 2010

Thank you George, that's a good idea. I'll look into it. I did get a few good, orange KBXes!

Christine

franzb69 · November 3, 2010

might also be due to high nitrogen content present in the soil or amendments?

October 30, 2010	#1
cdbva Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Falls Church, VA Posts: 538	Leggy My summer was a tomato travesty. First the deer pruned all my lovely plants way down when they were about two feet tall and already had flowers. I figured out how to fend off the deer (Milorganite and Deer Off). So all but one plant came back. But they were phenomenally leggy. Octopus-on-adrenaline leggy! There were only a few tomatoes, and most were small. I'm baffled by the legginess. They were all in full sun. The eggplant got a little out of control too, come to think of it. I'm wondering if it had to do with the soil. The plot was previously owned by a man who sold things at a farmers' market. The soil is very dark and soft, easy to turn over. He grew spearmint, among other things. Might there be too much of something in the soil? Or..? I'm stumped. Any ideas? Christine

October 30, 2010	#2
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	Most plants I've seen pruned low by animals come back kinda bushy instead of leggy. Leggy usually indicates low light, but you have already answered that. My guess would be an over abundance of nitrogen in the soil. Excessive nitrogen in my garden usually results in tall plants with a lot of space between fruit sets. I think excessive nitrogen will simply flash off with time, wear off with successive plantings, or flush off with multiple rains. You can deplete nitrogen from soil by mixing in some fresh sawdust or wood chips. I don't like to do that because it is easy to go the opposite direction and have a nitrogen shortage. That is only a guess. Someone else may have a better answer. Ted

October 31, 2010	#3
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	It also could be pour soil without enough nutrients available. I occasionally let a volunteer grow up on my fence where it is not tilled and enriched in any way and they are always very leggy and pale. Have you added compost and manures to your soil? Have you had a soil test?

October 31, 2010	#4
geeboss Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Fairfax, VA Z7 Posts: 524	Soil Testing link recommended by bohica Then you'll really know what might be the cause and find a workable solution for next season. Let me know if you need anything special for next years tomato planting. http://www.al-labs-west.com/sections/anservices George

November 2, 2010	#5
cdbva Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Falls Church, VA Posts: 538	Thank you George, that's a good idea. I'll look into it. I did get a few good, orange KBXes! Christine

November 3, 2010	#6
franzb69 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Philippines Posts: 210	might also be due to high nitrogen content present in the soil or amendments?