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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Tomato problem

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  • From: "Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Tomato problem
  • Date: Mon, 7 May 2007 07:43:49 -0500

Nice site. If it is a magnesium deficiency, pick up some epsom salts at a local pharmacy, dissolve a teasoon into a gallon of water, then water as needed with that for a week. If it shows recovery, that's a good indication the plant was suffering from Mg deficiency.

However, it could be more complicated. Sometimes a variety of a crop can be more sensitive than other varieties. Or, the soil mix may have a low pH, or your water may be high in calcium, leading to accumulation of the Ca in the soil mix and a resulting high pH. A high or low pH can limit the availability of nutrients, even in a soil (or soil mix) with good levels of nutrients.

I've run into this at our Research Center, where the water is high in calcium. Acidifying the water helps, but the problem only affects plants we keep for periods longer than three months in the greenhouse. We don't do much of that so we just live with it. Once the plants go in the field, it no longer matters.

Bill Shoemaker, Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
University of Illinois - St Charles Horticulture Research Center
www.nres.uiuc.edu/faculty/directory/shoemaker_wh.html


On Sun, 6 May 2007 22:06:37 -0400, you wrote:




Subject: Tomato problem


Tomato variety Patio

Growing in Pro-Mix BX

2 true leaves, less than 3" high

Perimeter ( outer ends of leaves) healthy dary green, but fade to yellow
toward center, and the worst have a white center.

Other tomatoes doing well.

Any ideas?


Take a look here: http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/min-def/tomatoes.htm

It's a shame the photos aren't better, but maybe you can recognize the
problem in one of them. I was thinking that Photo #255 (magnesium
deficiency) resembles your description.

Pat

-- Northern Pennsylvania
'Every one of us can do something to protect and care for our planet.
We should live in a way that makes a future possible.'
- Thich Nhat Hanh
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