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Lost cause? - Tomato plant.

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Cliecost
Cliecost Posts: 633 Forumite
in Gardening
Hi,

This is a beef steak tomato plant. Bought it at the same time as a Gardener's delight which is flourishing.

About a week ago this plan stopped growing and its leaves began to look as they do now.

Here and here.

My question to all you lovely gardeners; is this plan a lost cause? Should I just cut my losses and toss it out?

Thanks for any help.

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  • Arthog
    Arthog Posts: 223 Forumite
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    I'm not sure why the leaves have curled, but the pot is rather small for a Beefsteak tomato. Can you re-plant it in the ground? If it is easier, cut the base out of the pot and put the whole thing in the ground.
    I'd give it plenty of water too. Are the blue bits on the soil a fertiliser? It's best to give fertiliser when the plant has flowered and the tiny tomatoes are visible.
    It's a sturdy plant - good luck!
  • I_have_spoken
    I_have_spoken Posts: 5,051 Forumite
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    Too soon for blight, I'm thinking tomato curly top virus?

    Anyhow, I'd bin it.
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,557 Forumite
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    It looks as if it has lost the growing point. The bit you've got tied into the cane is just a leaf.
  • Cliecost
    Cliecost Posts: 633 Forumite
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    So is it a lost cause? Should I just toss it out?
  • peter_the_piper
    peter_the_piper Posts: 30,268 Forumite
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    give it a few days more, the side shoots will start to grow and can be trained up from there. It should fruit normally if fed and watered as usual.
    I'd rather be an Optimist and be proved wrong than a Pessimist and be proved right.
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,557 Forumite
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    peter_the_piper wrote: »
    give it a few days more, the side shoots will start to grow and can be trained up from there. It should fruit normally if fed and watered as usual.

    The leaves don't look too happy but I'd give it another chance as well.

    It looks as if there may be shoot breaking through - look at the bottom of the 'V' made by the two leaf branches. That's where a new shoot will come from - just train it up the cane as if it was the main shoot.
  • savemoney
    savemoney Posts: 18,127 Forumite
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    I spray my toms with aspirin (soluble) in water it suppose to make toms grow better by simulating an attack on it so builds up some immunity against deceases and blight

    http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Boost-Your-Tomatoes-Defenses-with-Aspirin/
  • Farway
    Farway Posts: 13,228 Forumite
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    FWIW my beef steak toms [black Russian] are not happy this year, could be weather related? the cherry toms and bog standard are all fine
    Eight out of ten owners who expressed a preference said their cats preferred other peoples gardens
  • Living_proof
    Living_proof Posts: 1,921 Forumite
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    I am no expert but it looks like wind damage to me. I would just keep nurturing it and I am sure it will reward you for your efforts!
    Solar Suntellite 250 x16 4kW Afore 3600TL dual 2KW E 2KW W no shade, DN15 March 14
    [SIZE Givenergy 9.5 battery added July 23
    [/SIZE]
  • Annie1960
    Annie1960 Posts: 3,002 Forumite
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    Looks like you've got tomato leaf curl.

    http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/hot_topics/2008/05tomato_leaf_roll.html
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