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Distorted growing tips on tomato plants in Levingtons Original Growbag

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  • SJFSJF Posts: 7

    This is the kind of leaf curling I had - I have cut the tops off now and leaves left are normal but only on bottom half of plants. This strange growth was on the top and is way more curly than the picture that was posted by Simone. That looks like normal curling that you get with a change in temperature. 
  • SJFSJF Posts: 7
    My compost making is restricted to a 'dalek' type bin and do not have the option of an open type heap. This is partly due to space and partly due to an active rat population due to a stream! We had one brought in by the cat yesterday so an open heap with kitchen waste is a complete no no. I don't produce enough garden waste either. I will see about relocating or fitting another 'dalek' bin in where there is a bit more warmth. The current one is down a side alley in complete shade all the time. It is not a case of me trying to keep garden pretty but working around structures - patio, greenhouse, trees, raised beds etc. I have to garden in raised beds due to mobility problems and I know that regular turning of a compost heap is not going to be possible even if I could site one. 
  • @Lyn The South West had no hot weather apart from the 40 hours last week. These are Mr F cherry tomatoes from the GW package. I used to have cherry tomatoes from Mr F since 2017, and they never had these hard leather-like leaves. They started already curling in the greenhouse in May when we had just 17 degrees and 9 degrees at night. 
    I have too many leaves because it works best in our wind alley garden. The plants hold each other better and survived 70 m/h storms. 
    Also, the chance to get blight is very low the less you touch the plants. 
    I know that everybody who comes into my garden is surprised seeing my tomato bed, but also adores the sheer amount of tomatoes that I get. I feed 2 neighbours later on. 
    So question is if Mr F has changed his seeds or if the soil works differently. 

    I my garden.

  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 805
    SJF said:
    My compost making is restricted to a 'dalek' type bin and do not have the option of an open type heap. This is partly due to space and partly due to an active rat population due to a stream! We had one brought in by the cat yesterday so an open heap with kitchen waste is a complete no no. I don't produce enough garden waste either. I will see about relocating or fitting another 'dalek' bin in where there is a bit more warmth. The current one is down a side alley in complete shade all the time. It is not a case of me trying to keep garden pretty but working around structures - patio, greenhouse, trees, raised beds etc. I have to garden in raised beds due to mobility problems and I know that regular turning of a compost heap is not going to be possible even if I could site one. 
    Could you rotate one? The rotating type are a bit more pricey, but make great compost and are off the ground so rats can't get in. 
  • SJFSJF Posts: 7
    I am going to do some research on different compost bins and a turning one is a good shout. I feel that I need to make some to mix in with other mediums so that I get best out of them. I seem to be posting under two ID's at the moment SJF and Tortoise 19. It depends which PC/tablet I am signed in on. So sorry if anyone has got confused.
  • SJFSJF Posts: 7
    Following some more investigation the tight curling and twisting of the top of my plants is due to chemical contamination. The chemicals in question are found in commercial lawn treatments found in garden centres for domestic lawn management of weeds. The clippings from lawn mowing go into compost waste collected by recycling facilities. If not treated correctly this is the damage caused. I unfortunately had grow bags filled with a batch of compost that for some reason was affected. Levingtons might argue otherwise but I am advised by a legitimate source this issue is occurring more and more. It is easily remedied by removing the chemicals from the lawn products - other chemicals could be used. My plants fruited well after I cut out the damage and we suffered no I’ll effects from eating them - even the slightly odd shaped ones. I am having my compost tested to confirm the cause. Tomatoes, beans and dahlias are most vulnerable. It would appear that the producers of lawn products and compost makers need to make some changes. 
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