Tomato plant alive, fruiting, no branch growth - Ask Extension
We bought 4 tomato plants at Mpls Farmers Market this spring. All looked healthy. 1 plant went into a large pot; it's doing well (roma). Other 3 plant...
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Tomato plant alive, fruiting, no branch growth #877479
Asked July 16, 2024, 1:33 PM EDT
We bought 4 tomato plants at Mpls Farmers Market this spring. All looked healthy. 1 plant went into a large pot; it's doing well (roma). Other 3 planted in our raised garden and while they are now fruiting, no growth at all of the plant itself, none, nada, nil. Ideas? Info: we plant tomato's here every year. We do feed the soil with slow release fertilizer and some fish oil concentrate diluted in water. Before watching a youtube, I dug in some table scraps I had blended in blender. I did bring in 2 soil samples this year, but not this area. I might bring more in yet this year. Spring is a busy time in soil lab! All 3 tomato plants in raised bed grew a little bit, then stopped, and they're all about the same, stunted height. Odd. The 3 stunted plants are alive, leaves look same as when we bought them, fruiting, but 100% no more growth either up or out. 2 yrs ago I took 1 cup epsom salts dissolved in 2 gal water and watered around. Later, strawberry plant jumped from ground into raised bed. Now tomatos & strawberries grow together, among hosta & other flower. Ideas on problem?
Wright County Minnesota
Expert Response
My guess is a nutrient deficiency, probably nitrogen. I'd get a soil test done, then fertilize accordingly:
https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/
You could also try using, according to label, an all-purpose or tomato-specific fertilizer. But getting the soil test done is best.
You've not said where the soil comes from in the raised bed, nor what is under the raised bed. All the recent rain can deplete fertilizer fairly quickly. If the raised bed is on top of heavy compacted soil, roots can't penetrate, also slowing nutrient uptake.
We generally don't recommend epsom salts:
https://extension.umn.edu/manage-soil-nutrients/coffee-grounds-eggshells-epsom-salts
https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/
You could also try using, according to label, an all-purpose or tomato-specific fertilizer. But getting the soil test done is best.
You've not said where the soil comes from in the raised bed, nor what is under the raised bed. All the recent rain can deplete fertilizer fairly quickly. If the raised bed is on top of heavy compacted soil, roots can't penetrate, also slowing nutrient uptake.
We generally don't recommend epsom salts:
https://extension.umn.edu/manage-soil-nutrients/coffee-grounds-eggshells-epsom-salts
