Sometimes, TLC is not enough

The fate of tomato plants are not entirely up to the gardener, I found out.

I chose to grow some heritage tomatoes which are supposedly both hardy and very tasty. Half of them got frost bitten despite wrapping them in plastic bags. Then, my friend Ed, a fellow gardener and our fearless Roaming Rider coordinator gave me some tomatoes he grew from seeds as well. Despite the mole-proof, safe-from-the-Walnut-wilt raised bed, the triple mix soil, the organic fertilizer, the straw mulch, the companion planting technique(inter planted with basil and marigolds to fend off nasty bugs), it is heart breaking to see them die one by one.

First, the case of tomato wilt (Fusarium or Verticillium- it doesn't matter). I was hoping that it was just the heat so I gave them water even though the soil looked moist. But even after the heavy rains, they were still as limp as rag dolls. I uprooted 2 plants: did a post mortem which confirmed that the vascular stems were "plugged" as the fungal disease set in. (This tomato plant in this photo is one of the first ones to go).

Second, the case of too much water. Yes, we've had a lot of it. Just as the leaves started to perk up again, the lower leaves turned yellow, the branches were getting snapped off because of the weight.

Third, the case of blossom-end rot which describes what it looks like rather the process. This is apparently caused by wet conditions as well.

Fourth, the case of early blight. Just click on the link if you care to know what blight is all about..or not. Nothing like learning all the tomato disorders in one season!

What this means is that I probably won't have to worry about harvesting any tomato this year! But this was a great learning opportunity which, hopefully, I will tuck away for the future.

Like an experienced parent, I fretted for a while but I got over it. I haveto keep in mind that despite all the TLC, there is no dealing with the natural elements when it comes to plants.