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Diseased Tomatoes?
Sian Humphrey
Posts: 4
in Fruit & veg
Hi, I'm new to gardening and this is the first year I have grown tomatoes. They are just starting to ripen now, in the greenhouse, but they are very blemished. I don't know if this is normal or whether the result of mismanagement or disease. They are "Gardener's Delight", they are in a grow bag, they've been pruned by removing suckers and then pinched out the growing point when they've reached the top of the greenhouse and are supported.
If it's something I've done wrong, I'd love to learn so I can get it right next year :-)
Thanks in advance for any help.
Sian
0
Posts
That's russeting! It's probably caused by extreme changes in temperature in your greenhouse, likely very hot in the day and cool at night. If you can, open the greenhouse door in the morning and close it up at night. If you have a window either do the same or leave it open all the time.
It probably shortens the shelf-life of each fruit but if you're growing just enough for yourselves it will probably not matter (just avoid picking all of them at once!). Does it still taste nice?
Hi Sian, as Bob says russetting is usually about extreme temp changes. I shade the tubs to try and even out temp changes to the roots and on v hot days (such as we have had here for a few weeks now!) I damp the floor mid to late morning, this will increase humidity but is OK if you have door and vents open. I water in the evening with tepid water which I have left all day in the watering can in the sun to warm.
Also pick fruit asap as the cracks can let in mould, I used to grow Gardener's Delight but switched to Sweet Million which are much better in my growing conditions - or maybe I just got better at looking after them
Coolglass the glasshouse earlier in the year helps with the temperature control, I know it is too late this year, the advice you have been given is good.
Thank you all for the advice. I do try to keep the door open during the day but forget to close it at night sometimes. I've taken all the leaves below the first fruits (I read somewhere about that). I haven't been damping down the floor, just watering so I'll start to do that. I was worried that it meant that I couldn't eat the tomatoes, but they seem edible lol.
Sian