Some tomatoes struggling, correct solution?

Joe Brown2 · May 2020

Hi guys I have a situation where I've been informed it looks like many of my tomatoes may be nutrient deficient. One plant is doing very well in comparison but they are all in the exact same compost same conditions etc so it's a bit puzzling. Anyway I was advised to give them something like "maxi crop" a seaweed based growth stimulant. Just making sure that's the correct thing and also if once trusses fruit if id use this once a fortnight and also my usual tomato feed as it instructs or if its one or the other?

Here's some images to show the healthy plant and ones who seem a bit behind with more yellow lower leaves, new growth seems better though, but in the pic with two plants side by side you can see the one on the left is more than twice as large and much greener.

As an aside if I get this product is it also suitable to give it to peppers to give them a boost? They don't seem to be suffering issues in the same way despite same conditions but may as well play it safe if it does no harm.

Kili · May 2020

I cant see much wrong with them. I would just nurture them along and make sure they don't dry out and once the first flowers/Trusse appear feed them with Tomrite once a week.

Make sure you open that plastic frame up and let air circulate when the weathers fine. Also, make sure you have holes in those buckets you don't want them water logged either. Other than that not all plants grow at the same rate some take a little longer. I have the odd runt of the litter myself every year.

angelique 2 · May 2020

I agree slow but steady wins the race. your little tomato plant is just taking it's time. a bit more air flow will help. I would not feed it yet as there are no flowers showing. I usually have half mine look like that at the start then romp away happily. might want to check what the sun is doing during the day if you can. one may have a slightly better position than the other. it looks like one might get a bit more shade than the other which might have an effect on young leaves.

Have you thought of swapping their position to see if the smaller one would grow differently being in the corner spot for a bit???

Pete.8 · May 2020

That's quite a lot of compost for a small plant.
Better to pot up in stages or the roots surrounded so much wet compost will struggle a bit. It also gives them some fresh compost each time with a little bit of fertilizer to keep them going.
I'm sure it'll pull through.
As said above, no feeding needed until the first tiny fruits start to appear.
To check if they need watering just tilt the pot (bucket) to gauge how heavy it is. You'll soon get the hang of it

Fairygirl · May 2020

I agree with everything @Pete.8 says, especially with the size of pot for the plant.
Always a mistake when plants are on the small side.

The compost doesn't look brilliant, which can also be a factor. It's been difficult to get decent stuff at the right time. I had to use what I could get hold of this year, which was pretty rubbish, but by the time they were moved into the next pot, they had better quality stuff.
Some varieties cope better than others, but some plants of the same variety will do better too. The same as most plants of any kind.

Joe Brown2 · May 2020

Okay guys thanks. It's just weird how much better that one plant is doing. Ah maybe I'll go up another pot size next time I started them in cells then 3" pots then these buckets. The compost was something called "new horizon all veg compost" by westland. Many plants are flowering so despite the small size of the plant I assume I should feed my tomorite once fruit sets? And to respond yes the buckets have multiple holes in and I'm keeping the door open all the time pretty much weather dependant as even at night it's not below 13 at the moment.

Fairygirl · May 2020

The smaller one might be getting more affected by any breeze at night, if it's nearer the door and it's open at night.

Yes - you can feed when fruits set, regardless of size, but just take care on the strength if there's a lot of compost around smaller plants. I pot into about a 5 or 6 inch pot after the initial sowing, which is usually in a 3 inch one or similar. I wait until they're really filling those before moving into final pots. I don't use anything as big as you have though

Joe Brown2 · May 2020

Hmm good point ill close the door at night then. These buckets are about 33cm diameter and take 14 litres though I filled them to roughly 12. I kept reading how bigger is better for final pots so probably rushed it. Hopefully these are big enough as these aren't beefsteak type ones. I've read mature plants need roughly a gallon of water every 5 days so roughly a litre a day. Would it be less at the moment or due to pot size should I do this? At the moment I've just been going on if it's still moist just under the surface leave it slightly longer. Guess it's a balancing act

Fairygirl · May 2020

It would possibly depend on the vigour of the variety, but I often use florist's buckets for mine, which is big enough for the ones I grow. I've no idea what the volume is, but certainly much smaller than a standard bucket which is usually about 3 gallons.
Watering - consistency is what's important. I keep mine slightly drier. I wait until they're just starting to look thirsty, then I water thoroughly. The frequency of that depends on temps mainly, and general weather conditions, even grown undercover.
It is one of those things that you get better at the more you grow them too

Some tomatoes struggling, correct solution?

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