Here is a picture of one of my tomato plants. It was grown from a seed indoors, then put outside, where it was exposed to temperatures in the 40s (with a cover over it.) Since then, it has developed these white spots on the leaves, some of which are actually translucent and rotted-looking. The bottom leaves have wilted away. And the base of the stalk is taking on a purple tint.
Nevertheless, I recently noticed that the leaves at the very top are dark green and seem to be healthy. Does this mean the plant will pull through?
I’m guessing the discoloration on the leaves is physical damage from where the plastic was in contact with the leaf tissue. If you didn’t get the plastic off until the sun was on the plants, the leaves might be burned. The plant looks otherwise healthy. I think it will make it.
Tomato and pepper plants really don’t like cold soil, and you don’t gain anything by setting them out before the soil is really warmed up. Remember this next year when you’re getting all eager to get your plants out. Memorial Day is not too late, at least in Zone 5, where I am.
They were covered with a large plastic tub that was turned upside down, so I don’t think the white spots are from when the leaves were in contact with plastick.
Nonetheless, the new growth looks good. If you want, you can dig it up and replant it deeper. It will root all along the buried stem and won’t be so leggy, but I think in a month, it’s gonna look like a regular ol’ mater plant, whether you plant it deeper or not.
that my friend is blight… there are ways to fight it but, it involves chemicals… my dad uses them on his. Alot of people actully came to him last year for help, and for his chemical recipe lol… they still tasted good, and i can still have children so your prolly ok with the chem spray, good luck. also that will kill the plant and it does spread
Shit! That’s bad news. How did they get the blight?
It looks more like sun scald to me.
I must say, I searched for blight images, and they look nothing like my plants. My leaves just have white spots on them (some of them slightly translucent.) The blighted plants I have seen are covered with brown spots - which I do not have.
Argent Towers, you are right about the blight and brown spots. The two most common types of blight are late blight (Phytophthera) and early blight (Alternaria), both of which come from soil-borne pathogens, and your tomatoes haven’t been in the soil long enough.
water droplets on a leaf will act as a magnifying lens to the sun’s rays producing a burn spot. it is best not to water leaves in strong sunlight if it can be avoided. inside a mini greenhouse water can condense on the lid and drop on the leaves; using those can be tricky to prevent overheating, rotting.
The younger leaves do look healthy - I’d give it some tomato fertilizer and leave it alone.
Yes, the healthy leaves in fact look very healthy; and so does the stem. New growth in plants is often reddish or purplish. As long as you keep it from getting rot-type conditions going (that would most likely be from not enough or too-weak sunlight; or poor drainage), in my opinion your tomato plant has an excellent chance of a happy, productive life.
I agree. It often happens when moving any plant outdoors; they should always be put in the shade for the first day or two.
It’ll be fine.