|
Post by gixxerific on May 14, 2012 18:25:14 GMT -5
Noticed this today, these plants were the first of first being planted and have been doing great. I really see them pulling thorugh but until I know what's wrong, they are in limbo. Any ideas. Notice the top of them curling up. Thanks Dono
|
|
izzy
Pro Member
Posts: 347
Joined: July 2011
|
Post by izzy on May 14, 2012 19:37:47 GMT -5
It appears to be curly top. Some of the symptoms are curling up of leaves, purpling veins, turning downward of petioles. It is a virus that is transmitted by the beet leafhopper. There are now different strains of CT that have been identified, so other chewing/sucking insects may also be a vector - I don't know. The virus does not spread from plant to plant, but can still be transmitted by leafhoppers. Nothing can be done now - it is systemic. The toms can finish growing; but then you would run the risk of infecting any plants that remain healthy. Also, the virus can infect other veggies and wild weeds.
I am so sorry - hopefully - I am wrong and I'd gladly eat my words. Good luck to you.
|
|
|
Post by paulf on May 15, 2012 7:30:52 GMT -5
I agree. My answer was nearly the same on another gardening site.
|
|
|
Post by txdirtdog on May 15, 2012 9:27:37 GMT -5
I think Izzy and PaulF have it right. I'm lousy at identifying diseases, but I was going to recommend you google tomato pseudo curlytop virus and look at some pics of it. One of those strains Izzy was referring to.
The other thing I picked up was that the infection happened 2 weeks before sympoms appeared. So the leafhoppers that did the damage are long gone. An interesting thing I saw referred to was that the leaf hoppers (and some other critters) are drawn to spaced plantings - like in rows. One recommendation to deter was to do tight plantings. I've never heard that one before.
Really hope we're all wrong, as the plants will die if it is curly top.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
|
Post by Deleted on May 15, 2012 14:45:17 GMT -5
It could also possibly be roundup damage, looks pretty similar.
|
|
|
Post by gixxerific on May 15, 2012 18:45:37 GMT -5
Whatever it is they are goners. Should I pull them right away? I sure don't want any more problems.
This just blows these were my top 5. Now they are gone. But I still, you guessed it, have 5 plants left that can take their place. Is it safe to replant in those holes.
|
|
izzy
Pro Member
Posts: 347
Joined: July 2011
|
Post by izzy on May 15, 2012 21:16:40 GMT -5
Well, let's see:
It's not a soil borne disease, so technically I guess you could. But it is a fungal disease that can be hosted by goosefoot, chenopodium, and other various grasses and weeds (and some vegetable plants). Are those types of wild growth near that area? If there are leafhoppers still munching on host plants and wander into your garden - same thing all over again. That would be my thinking.
As far as the concept of planting them tightly together - I think it's a numbers game. You would loose some, but not all due to restricted access. At least that's the way it is with commercial pumpkins and svb. Reason home gardeners have so much troubles with pests like this is because any losses are significant. In commercial farming, those losses are part of the calculation at seeding time.
With only 5 plants left, I'd play it super-safe and see if there were a way to container garden them for now until the problem can be resolved. For example: is the leafhopper a short-lived pest in your area, or persistent until first freeze? Did the neighbors spray Round Up on a windy day? These are the questions I would look into.
Do you have a long enough season that you could start seeds now to carry you over through early fall? That might give you a second chance at planting them in ground (providing the source of infection has been identified and eliminated). Not familiar with Mo climate and pests.
|
|
|
Post by paulf on May 20, 2012 8:51:49 GMT -5
I have around a hundred plants left over and I could mail some to you if you want. PM me and I can send a list of what I have and we can go from there.
|
|
|
Post by gixxerific on May 20, 2012 15:41:39 GMT -5
Thank you so very much Paulf but I think I'm good for now. As much as I would love to get more I could actually use the room. LOL. Its only 5 for now.
|
|