Is this creature a tomato hornworm caterpillar? Are these white growths on it the larvae that will mature into braconid wasps?
Great image and this is actually a good thing!.
The white projections are the larvae of the braconid wasp, Cotesia congregatus. Larvae that hatch from the wasp’s eggs, which are laid on the hornworm, feed on the inside of the hornworm until the wasp is ready to pupate. Such “host” hornworms should be left in the garden in order to conserve the beneficial parasites. The wasps will kill the hornworms when they emerge from their cocoons. They will also seek out other hornworms to feed upon and kill.
It appears that our tomatoes all have blight. Can you eat the tomatoes or must the plant and tomato be destroyed?
Make sure you don't have another common issue first... Blossom end rot... It is a magnesium/calcium deficiency. Dolomitic lime (agri-pel is what I use) will take care of the issue if it is that... Blight to a tomato will mean reconditioning your soil, and ridding it of the issue. wettable sulfur will help there.
Why do tomatoes split?
I'm guessing it just rained really hard? Usually it is caused by a change in moisture/humidity. Sometimes it even happens after it gets really dry and you water it really good. Make sure to maintain proper soil moisture. Even though tomatoes are drought tolerant, doesn't mean they like it. Also, add dolomitic lime (agri-pel is the brand I use) and it will save you a lot of trouble in the future. Try adding a liquid silica to the water as well. Just be stingy as this will hinder the uptake of potassium, which your fruit need to bear properly. If you have any more questions feel free to shoot me a line at 6.schuster@gmail.com or just ask here, and I'll be here to answer. Thank You!
I grew my first tomato plant in a raised cedar planter. I used the best soil I could buy and the plant seemed to flourish and yield a crop of 3 doz. fruit. I also used 2 bamboo stakes to support the plant. About three weeks before the crop was finished the lower leaves turned yellow and seemed to spread up the stalks of the plant. I pruned it back and pulled up the bamboo supports only to discover the parts in the soil were covered with a heavy black powdery substance that looked like black mold. My question: if this is mold, does this mean the soil is ruined and should not be used for any other plantings? Thank you.
There are several tomato diseases which could cause the symptoms you describe, but fusarium wilt and tomato black root rot seem like top possibilities. Fusarium is a fungus that damages the roots and stem and causes yellowing of the leaves:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/controlling-fusarium-wilt.htm
Black root rot caused by Thielaviopsis fungi is less common but has been seen in California. Check this fact sheet for more information:
plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/blackrootrot.pdf
And here are a few more tomato diseases in case those don't match:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-diseases.htm
In any case it is best to avoid growing tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, and other relatives in the Solanaceae family in that pot for the next few years. You may want to get rid of the soil in the planter entirely just to be safe and then use 10% bleach to clean the planter.
I have yellow and red tomatoes on plant, not changing color what do I do?
You can add a high phosphorous and potassium fertilizer, and that will help further ripening. This article will help:https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-fertilizer.htm
*Why not caption the home page photo? It's a photo of a tomato plant which happens to be my tomato plant problem... *Why use photos of compromised plants that are not tomato plants in an article on tomato plant problems? *Where is the review of the relativity between the topic text and reference images? *Why should I bother using a site that claims garden know how, but has confusing info?
The Gardening Know How image and feature article changes every week.
Click on the 'Read more' that is there and it will direct you to the article featured.
We have many articles to help you with Tomatoes and the related diseases.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-plant-problems.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-diseases.htm
Please feel free to take a picture of the tomato plant, describe the issue you are having and send to us! We would be happy to help you!
How to get rid of, or not get blight.
There is a recipe that I like to use for both preventative, and spot treatments. It is one of the best I have found. You don't have to have all ingredients, but the more you have, the better it works
:First, you will want to prime the ground with dolomitic lime, then spread wettable sulfur to Kill off any infection in the soil. I Also like to spray the plant itself. Mix a few drops of one or more of these ingredients into warm water with a spoonful of coconut oil: Rosemary oil, lavender oil, neem oil, garlic oil, cinnamon extract/oil and for really bad cases, also add clove oil.