Arizonagardener
Newly Registered
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2012 6:47 pm
Location: Arizona

Having a few issues with my veggie garden, help?

The garden looks as though it is doing very well. The tomato plants have grown, flowers are blooming on my raspberries, and a few seedlings are beginning to sprout. Upon closer inspection, however, I've noticed a few issues.

[img]https://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p536/Arizonagardener/plant3.jpg[/img]
I noticed these sort of brown spots on almost every leaf of the tomato plants, both of them. I began to think perhaps they weren't getting watered enough, but we had a huge rain shower just last week, and bubblers still going every other day. It doesn't seem too detrimental to the tomatoes, as I have quite a few that are actually beginning to grow, but I'm just trying to figure out how to keep the plant healthy, so that it lasts for future years to come.

[img]https://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p536/Arizonagardener/plant2.jpg[/img]
Another look at the tomato leaves that have this brown look to them.

[img]https://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p536/Arizonagardener/plant5.jpg[/img]
The other problem child in the garden...my blackberry bush. It hasn't seemed to die straight away as my last one did, but it just isn't looking too healthy. The, well trunk or main branch, of the plant seems to be darkening, turning red in some places. It is close to my tomato plants, so I'm wondering if the tomatoes are literally stealing all the water. My strawberry plant, also in that area, seems to be doing fine though, with the first red berry just about ready to harvest.

What is going on with my garden?! And how do I help it?! D:

User avatar
hendi_alex
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 3604
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:58 am
Location: Central Sand Hills South Carolina

The tomato vegetation looks very tender. My guess is abrasion from rain or perhaps wind has caused the soft green tissue to literally wear off of the leaf membrane. Sun scald looks similar, but the open damaged parts would likely be much larger. This condition will not hurt the plant, and as new leaves emerge, they will be tougher, more hardened to the wind and rain. So not to worry on the tomato plant.

I have no idea about the blackberry plant.

User avatar
applestar
Mod
Posts: 30551
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)

I think two of you are having same issues:
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=248463

Arizonagardener
Newly Registered
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2012 6:47 pm
Location: Arizona

Oh wow, That's strange! Literally the exact same o_O
I'm guessing the rain issue is credible. My dad told me that there was some pretty heavy hail at some point, so that could be the cause of the damage. Any idea how I can protect my plants from this? Or just cover them with tarps?

User avatar
hendi_alex
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 3604
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:58 am
Location: Central Sand Hills South Carolina

Plants which are hardened off properly would usually not suffer the problem except from extreme wind, rain, and of course hail. Hardening off usually involves gradually exposing the tender plants to sun and wind over a period of ten days or so. For example, the transplants could be placed in a filtered light area with a wind block. Each day the plants are moved a little closer to full sun and the wind block is moved a little further from the plant as well. When the plants are ready for the garden, they will have developed toughened leaf tissue that would withstand all but the harshest conditions.

For extreme conditions, the only solution that I can imagine is some sort of barrier or tarp that would protect the plants.



Return to “Vegetable Gardening Forum”