Black dots on tomato plant + porous looking stems

[6sparkpug6]

Hi! So I was looking at my tomato plants today and have been noticing something odd. There are a bunch of tiny black dots on the stem, that I was able to brush off easily with my fingers. (Could it be an organism or something like that? Or eggs? They didn't move.) In addition, I have been noticing that the stems looked a bit porous, which maybe be a result of those black things.

In areas, the stem may look a little discolored (could this be blight? It is not too bad and isn't damaging the leaves- just a brownish purple color on the stem).

Also, the porous looking areas look like dark spots in a way, but I can't "brush them off" as I did with the other black dots.

I live in CT if that makes a difference. The tomatoes are in raised beds.

I tried to upload a picture but the file size was too big
Maybe I'll get a chance to do it on my computer tomorrow.

So, does anyone know what is going on with my tomatoes? They look healthy otherwise (for the most part).

Thanks!

[Cola82]

There's a thread in the tips and suggestions part of the forum for posting photos: https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/vi ... =23&t=3724

Here's a diagnostic tool for tomatoes that I've used quite a bit already: https://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell. ... ltKey.html

Here's a page with a good photo of early blight lesions on the stem: https://gardening.about.com/od/problemsp ... ants_2.htm

I'm sure someone else can be of more help. D:

[6sparkpug6]

Hi cola! Thanks for the image tip! (Now if I could only figure out how to get an avatar )


May I apologize in advance in case these photos don't work..


Some aren't the best quality but it was hard getting my iPhone to focus on the small branch when there was a bunch of exciting stuff in the background!



Also cola, I tried looking at the website- very helpful! I will definitely remember it for future use! I don't think mine have blight though.. It doesn't look like it. Hmm I couldn't find any that looked similar but maybe you or someone else will have more luck! Who knows, maybe this is normal for a tomato... I never really pay this much attention to them anyway, so I guess we will just have to see.

Thanks for the help!

[6sparkpug6]

Oops! Posted one twice.. And upside down. Sorry.


And I left one out...