Hi everyone,

I am a newbie to gardening and my plants where doing so well, and now all the sudden growth stopped and the stems are all turning brown. Leaves are also starting to die off starting at the lowest ones. I live in FL USA and its been hot/humid and rainy lately. The plant in the picture is a heirloom in a 15 gal container.

I think they are too far gone this year, but I am hoping to better understand what happened so I don't make the same mistake again!

Thanks for you help,
Mark

Did you grow a variety that will do well in your hot/humid/rainy climate?

I grew 3 native plants that the local garden store recommended. One was called swamp tomatoes, lol....and they all died with a different looking disease (yellow/brown leaves - just took them out today). I did get a lot of tomatoes from those plants. The other plants I ordered online because I wanted to try other varieties. Guess I was hopeful!

Just 2 weeks ago everything was bright green and growing like weeds. I don't know what happened . You can see the leaves on the bottom right plant just starting to wilt, then they shrivel up gray like mush and fall off. I was out taking care of them daily, maybe I smothered them even did the electric toothbrush trick since there are not many bees around here

Did the pots have holes in them to drain out the water? How much did you water your plants, or did they fill up with rain water? Sometimes people love their plants to death. I don't do well with indoor plants because I see them every time Iam in the kitchen, Iam like a mother hen lol. Iam glad you were able to get some tomatoes 🍅. Someone who can better help you will stop by Iam sure.

Welcome

😀

Mindi

I am definitely a mother hen with my plants! I was out there everyday training them on the cages. I fertilized twice (4 weeks apart) with worm castings and tomato-tone, spread about half an inch of the mixture on top of soil. When the soil was dry 1 inch down (checked with my finger) I would water with the hose soaker setting until water ran out the bottom holes. This turned out to be every other day most of the time. The past couple weeks have been overcast and wet, so I am wondering if thats what caused them to die. The one plant I pulled up had white roots, I had thought it might be root rot but wouldn't those roots look, well, rotten?

Each of the pots had 5 quarter sized holes in the bottom, I am wondering if the hot humid weather and black container just caused too much moisture inside?

Well to me, and I am by no means a tomato expert, it sounds like you did all the right things. The tomato plants looked great. Maybe some disease got to them? Maybe someone else can jump in with more experience of vegetables.

At least you were able to harvest some.

I tend to be a mother hen as well so I know how that can be. Lol.

You did your best and welcome by the way .

Hope someone else jumps in. The white roots sounds like they were healthy roots. That was my two cents.

There's a way to sterilize the soil for next year, but Iam not too sure about it.

Sending you good thoughts and fun gardening!!

😀

Mindi