I've identified the problem with my black tomatoes. After doing some research I've discovered that it is fusarium wilt.
The plants will start to wilt on one side and very soon the whole plant will be affected. Apparently the bacteria blocks the phloem in the stems. Phloem is the carrier of nutrients through out the plant. The bacterium can stay in the soil for up to six years. Resistant varieties are the only hope when this wilt is present.
Now that I have identified the problem, I realize that it started last year. Three varieties met an early demise in 2011. 'Russian Black', 'Black Sea Man' and 'Burpee Table Talk' had died by early august. This year I again have lost 'Burpee Table Talk' and 'Black Sea Man'. Also, 'Purple Pear' and 'Ivory Pear' have succumbed this year.
It seems that I am going to have pay attention to resistance if I continue to grow tomatoes in the potager. The caveat is that for most heirlooms this information is not listed. There are some OP's that are thriving in the potager. The list includes 'Black Cherry', 'Amy's Apricot', 'Victor', 'Reisenstraube', 'Pritchard' and 'Snowberry'.
I'll have plenty of tomatoes this year despite the losses. I'll just have to do additional research when looking for new varieties to try. Of course, there are always the hybrids...
Sorry to hear that you've lost so many plants. I hoped you'd tell me how purple pear was on taste if it was good or not. I also got several plants with signs of wilt and it's mostly Black Krim
ReplyDeleteI hope it's not fusarium wilt. It's hard to figure out what kind of wilt it is. I'll try and find I the xite that I used for identification. It was very detailed with lot's of examples pictured.
DeleteI've had a problem with it in the past in much of the main garden, which is one reason I use the buckets and put them where I haven't had wilt. I had my Brandywines growing in the same spot for three years, but fusarium took them down last year, along with the Rutgers I had in the east garden. It never seems to bother my cherry tomatoes, and Juliet grew rampant through the infected area of the garden a couple of years ago. Too bad I didn't care much for Juliet!
ReplyDeleteSince my garden is so small, I'll have to use resistant varieties. I can't really practce proper rotation.
DeleteI may grow a few hybrids next year and save seed. Then I can try to eventually get an op version that is resistant.
I never liked 'Juliet' either, very bland with tough skins.
Celebrity and Pixie were always my go to tomatoes. I could plant them anywhere with no fusarium problems. Unfortunately they don't sell Pixie seeds any more. I do have one from Canada, but it's much smaller then the old Pixie I used to grow. About three years ago fusarium even wiped out a Celebrity. I meant to tell you Victor has developed a fine flavor and juiciness. I've only been watering once a week and ignoring them the rest of the time, so maybe that is the answer.
DeleteI haven't grown 'Celebrity' since Monsanto bought Semini's, the company that produces the seed. It's the same with most of the hybrids I grew, 'Lemon Boy', 'Big Beef' etc.
DeleteThere are lot's of other hybrids I can try, that are not associated with Monsanto.
I'm glad that 'Victor' has a good flavor! We have had so much rain that I don't have to even think of watering. There is always next year...
Too bad. I've always had tons of diseases go through the tomatoes but I don't think I've ever had that. I guess that is the one good thing about not being able to eat them anymore. Tomatoes have to be the worst plant when it comes to diseases.
ReplyDeleteI'm not worried, there are so many varieties out there to try. I always plant to many, so I always end up with enough.
DeleteSo sorry. I found out I had fusarium wilt a few years ago when all of my heirlooms died. I have tried to garden with it for years. I can tell you that Cherokee Green and Cherokee Purple will grow in soil infected with FW. I also tried a product called Actinovate this year and some heirlooms that are not known for resistance against fusarium have survived and produced. I cannot swear it was the Actinovate but it may be worth a try.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip on the Cherokee varieties. I'll have to try 'Cherokee Purple' again. I hate to spray etc. even if it's organic. It does give me a good reason to try several new varieties next year.
DeleteActinovate is not a spray (a least not for fusarium). It is a root drench that I used 3 times. It is also organic (though not cheap).
Deletea soil drench application for root decay diseases such as Pythium, Phytophthora, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Verticillium, Phymatotrichum omnivorum (cotton root rot) and other root decay fungi.
DeleteI've been saying my tomatoes had suffered from fusarium wilt, when in fact it was verticillium. Chalk it up to my CRS disease ;-) Those darned *iums* are all alike, LOL!
I also had the same problem (not actually tested to be sure) with most of my tomatoes, some peppers, and eggplants. I did use Actinovate - well after they started showing problems, and they seem to be starting to recover! I also can't swear that it was Actinovate, or if I actually had Fusarium, but it is definitely worth a try, I think. I plan on writing up a post about this soon.
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