Question
Hello again, I sought help for my tomatoes.  This is that question:
Hi,
I have been growing tomatoes for over 15 years. This year I have about 250 or so tomatoes plants.  They are from 30-45 days old.  All of a sudden approx. 2 weeks ago most all of them started having drooping lower leaves.  I would pinch them off and go.  Now, I am loosing leaves like crazy.   The leaves are not discolored. They look like they are really stressed.  Like as if I left them out in the sun too long when you would acclimate them before planting.  Or if they were really dry needed water.  My plants were beautiful with strong stems for their age.  Now they look thin and weak.  I've even re-transplanted them all thinking it may be my soil combination. fertilizers are Miracle grow for tomatoes, Epsom salt, and Burpee's Sea Magic which is a seaweed micro mineral compound.  Do you have any suggestions on what is ailing my Mater's?  Also, I have about 200-300 other garden plants growing along my tomatoes.  All of them are beautiful and growing like crazy.
One last thing, I live in Denver, so my growing zone is 5a.

Thank you for your time,
Respectfully,
Teresa

And the reply from mike:

Teresa, it is one of two things. Either the tomatoes have contracted a disease specific to tomatoes, such as Verticillium, blight, or anthracnose. The only way to tell for sure would be to bring a plant or soil sample to your local garden center and have them diagnose it.

The other possibility is that they were hit by a light frost. I also live in zone 5 and have seen frosts hit as late as may 20th. For that reason, I do not set out my tender transplants until Memorial Day. I learned this lesson several years ago when I experienced the same sympoms you are describing when the temperature dropped into the low thirties one night. I lost over 20 tomato plants. Some did survive, but depending on the variety, some were much more tender than others and would not tolerate even the slightest of frost.

Without the ability to see the plants, I really recommend taking one out and taking it to your local nursery. Just by sight, they can tell you for sure what has afflicted the plants.

Good luck, and please write again if I can ever provide assistance.

Regards,

Mike


I have a couple of other questions.

Can my tomatoes contract these disorders since they are still in my home in my gwoing room?  I have'nt even taken them outside at all yet.  Also can the soil-less medium to start the tomatoes already have these disorders?  I use this medium when I transplant them into bigger cups and add a couple of other type of medium.  I though that maybe this combo was too strong.  

Anyhow, thank you for your time.  I really appreciate your knowledge.  I have grown my own garden veggies for years, but these tomatoes are baffling.Especially when I have 250+ plants at stake.  

Once again,
Thank You,
Teresa

Answer
Teresa:

It's unlikely that either of the problems Mike suggested would have hit your indoor plants. You don't smoke around them, by any chance?

Did your room perhaps get too cold overnight? Other than the things you mentioned, which I would think the plants would have recovered from by now (sun, water), I really don't have an answer for you. The only thing I wonder about is your fertilizer - sounds like a lot for such small plants.

How long ago did you repot them? Were they potbound at that time? It sounds like you have plenty of experience at this and most certainly know what you are doing, so I doubt you have done anything wrong.

I agree with Mike that a trip to a local extension office, if you have one nearby, would be your best bet. If not, maybe a commercial grower in your area. It doesn't sound too good.

Elyse