tomatoes

Question

MY TOMATOES WERE PLANTED THE LAST FEW DAYS OF MARCH. I AM IN WAXAHACHIE,TEXAS. THEY ARE GREEN AND BEGINNING TO BLOOM. HOWEVER,THE VERY TOP LEAVES ARE KNOTTED UP, BUT STILL GREEN. THE STEM IN GREEN LOOKS HEALTHY, AS DO THE OTHER LEAVES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PLANT. I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NEMATODE PROBLEMS, AND I TREATED THE SOIL WITH “GOOD NATURED KNOCK OUT NEMATODE” I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS REALLY WHAT IS WRONG. THERE ARE ABOUT 20 PLANTS. ABOUT TEN ARE SHOWING THIS PROBLEM. I CANNOT GET IN TOUCH WITH THE COMPANY WHO SELLS THE PRODUCT I USED. HAVE YOU HEARD OF THIS ON TOMATOES? JUST THE TOP LEAVES ARE AFFECTED. NOT SURE. CAN YOU EMAIL ME OR CALL? [e-mail]. Cell 2149267895

Answer 1

Upper leaves that appear knotted could be a symptom of a viral disease, a nutrient deficiency, or herbicide exposure. Please see the links on this page to tomato bunchy top and tomato apical stunt viruses and herbicide exposure symptoms:

http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/DiagnosticKeys/TomWlt/TomWiltKey.html

It looks like "Good Natured Knock Out Nematode" is actually a live beneficial nematode product. It definitely wouldn't have caused these symptoms, and it should help get rid of any root knot nematodes (if you had them) and certain other pest problems.