Wilting again

chidogs · July 25, 2019

Once more, I planted my tomatoes in the ground, back patio, great afternoon sun. They grew beautifully for 6 weeks, around 3 ft now. And....the bottom leaves are turning yellow and just wilting away. This happens every time. Whether I am using pots or in the ground. I don't know why. I grew tomatoes for 20 years against my house in Covina, Ca (San Gabriel Valley, hot), and had awesome crops. But since moving to San Diego, (near the coast), I cannot get a good crop. I have decent green tomatoes formed but the plant is withering after looking beautiful. I waited until mid June to plant (got seedlings from Home depot), to avoid June gloom. And they looked so good. I am so frustrated. Ideas?

I have neighbors who can grow them just fine, so it isn't just the location/weather.

zipcode · July 26, 2019

Pictures?
There's usually two reasons why bottom leaves turn yellow (just solid yellow, not interveinal chlorosis or disease).
The first is lack of nitrogen, and the second is prolonged periods of being shaded. Bottom leaves that don't get any light will eventually be cut out from the plant.

arnorrian · July 26, 2019

Shouln't you be planting in February or something in San Diego?

peebee · July 27, 2019

chidog, if your neighbors are growing them just fine why not ask them what they are doing that might be different from what you are doing. Since you are having this problem whether in ground or pots, then the soil isn't the problem. Could it be the fertilizer or when/how you are applying it? Could it be the watering? Again, compare notes with the neighbors as they might have grown in that zone longer than you have.
If at all possible, like anorrian suggested, try planting earlier next year. I am up the coast from you and I plant in March. May Gray and June Gloom are not really that bad for tomatoes. And why not just remove those bottom yellowing leaves since they aren't doing any good anyways? I grew using the single stem method this year and will never go back to not pruning.

You still have a few more good months of growing season. Good luck!

Barb_FL · July 30, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by peebee

I grew using the single stem method this year and will never go back to not pruning.

Can you elaborate?

Do you grow in containers/ earthboxes (I think)? Staking? All tomatoes or just the large ones?

Anything else that you can think of.

Thanks,
Barb

July 25, 2019	#1
chidogs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 7	Wilting again Once more, I planted my tomatoes in the ground, back patio, great afternoon sun. They grew beautifully for 6 weeks, around 3 ft now. And....the bottom leaves are turning yellow and just wilting away. This happens every time. Whether I am using pots or in the ground. I don't know why. I grew tomatoes for 20 years against my house in Covina, Ca (San Gabriel Valley, hot), and had awesome crops. But since moving to San Diego, (near the coast), I cannot get a good crop. I have decent green tomatoes formed but the plant is withering after looking beautiful. I waited until mid June to plant (got seedlings from Home depot), to avoid June gloom. And they looked so good. I am so frustrated. Ideas? I have neighbors who can grow them just fine, so it isn't just the location/weather.

July 26, 2019	#2
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	Pictures? There's usually two reasons why bottom leaves turn yellow (just solid yellow, not interveinal chlorosis or disease). The first is lack of nitrogen, and the second is prolonged periods of being shaded. Bottom leaves that don't get any light will eventually be cut out from the plant.

July 26, 2019	#3
arnorrian Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2019 Location: Serbia Posts: 199	Shouln't you be planting in February or something in San Diego?

July 27, 2019	#4
peebee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 1,714	chidog, if your neighbors are growing them just fine why not ask them what they are doing that might be different from what you are doing. Since you are having this problem whether in ground or pots, then the soil isn't the problem. Could it be the fertilizer or when/how you are applying it? Could it be the watering? Again, compare notes with the neighbors as they might have grown in that zone longer than you have. If at all possible, like anorrian suggested, try planting earlier next year. I am up the coast from you and I plant in March. May Gray and June Gloom are not really that bad for tomatoes. And why not just remove those bottom yellowing leaves since they aren't doing any good anyways? I grew using the single stem method this year and will never go back to not pruning. You still have a few more good months of growing season. Good luck!