Tomatoes dying. What can I plant in their place?

[Anonymous]

Against my better judgment, I planted my tomatoes in the same spot I've used the past two years. (I have limited space, but still--I know better!) Two of them are turning brown from the bottom up and I'm afraid they won't last much longer. What can I plant this late in the season? I'd prefer cutting flowers or veggies since I'll probably rethink the beds in fall. Too late for dahlias? Other suggestions?

Thanks from an enthusiastic amateur.

[Anonymous]

They are prolly needing water, brown leaves won't kill tomatoes. Put some epson salt and water on the ground.

[Anonymous]

Green beans.

They grow fast and produce a lot.

[Anonymous]

I have been growing tomatoes in the same spot for several years without any problems. Have you been watering regularly?

[Anonymous]

They've been watered plenty. In fact, they were positively drowned during those last major rains of 2-3 weeks ago and they started browning soon thereafter. I've grown tomatoes for many years and these ones look like mine usually do in September: branches dying from the bottom.

I already have two trellises of beans but, yeah, they're doing great. Maybe I can turn my whole yard over to beans.

[Anonymous]

If the soil is heavy the roots may have died from all that water. I planted some dahlia tubers yesterday. It's late but you'll get flowers, just for a shorter time. Otherwise just plant new tomato seedlings. There's still time for them to grow.

[Anonymous]

My plants have not enjoyed the frequent torrential rainstorms we've had. I suspect that is the problem.

[Anonymous]

If you like wildlife, zinnias or sunflowers, both of which can be used for cut flowers. The finches love them. Butterflies come to the zinnias and sometimes hummingbirds. Taller varieties are better for this purpose, but shorter Profusion zinnias are good too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My plants have not enjoyed the frequent torrential rainstorms we've had. I suspect that is the problem.

+1 I have some seriously sad looking tomatoes this year.

[Anonymous]

For anyone still following this (it's probably just me, the OP) I looked it up and my toms appear to be suffering from early blight. Total bummer but I'm going to dig them up and toss them and replant--probably zinnias.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They've been watered plenty. In fact, they were positively drowned during those last major rains of 2-3 weeks ago and they started browning soon thereafter. I've grown tomatoes for many years and these ones look like mine usually do in September: branches dying from the bottom.

I already have two trellises of beans but, yeah, they're doing great. Maybe I can turn my whole yard over to beans.

Yeah it may be blight. This area is so favorable for tomato diseases! I had the same problem a couple years ago- i rotate between two beds but really need more time between each. Took a break altogether from tomatoes last year and so far so good. What about butternut squash? I’ve had good luck with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They've been watered plenty. In fact, they were positively drowned during those last major rains of 2-3 weeks ago and they started browning soon thereafter. I've grown tomatoes for many years and these ones look like mine usually do in September: branches dying from the bottom.

I already have two trellises of beans but, yeah, they're doing great. Maybe I can turn my whole yard over to beans.

Yeah it may be blight. This area is so favorable for tomato diseases! I had the same problem a couple years ago- i rotate between two beds but really need more time between each. Took a break altogether from tomatoes last year and so far so good. What about butternut squash? I’ve had good luck with that.

I had what might have been early blight and/or septoria leaf spot last year, but my tomatoes still survived and kept producing new vines and tomatoes. I just kept cutting the sick parts. This year, I am using my other bed (I also only have two), and planted them farther apart (2.5 feet), and I mulched the soil with leafgro. I also cut the lower leaves so that nothing touches or is too near the soil. I have seen a few spots on the leaves of a couple of plants, but overall things are looking much better than last year. It's still early though so we'll see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They've been watered plenty. In fact, they were positively drowned during those last major rains of 2-3 weeks ago and they started browning soon thereafter. I've grown tomatoes for many years and these ones look like mine usually do in September: branches dying from the bottom.

I already have two trellises of beans but, yeah, they're doing great. Maybe I can turn my whole yard over to beans.

Yeah it may be blight. This area is so favorable for tomato diseases! I had the same problem a couple years ago- i rotate between two beds but really need more time between each. Took a break altogether from tomatoes last year and so far so good. What about butternut squash? I’ve had good luck with that.

I had what might have been early blight and/or septoria leaf spot last year, but my tomatoes still survived and kept producing new vines and tomatoes. I just kept cutting the sick parts. This year, I am using my other bed (I also only have two), and planted them farther apart (2.5 feet), and I mulched the soil with leafgro. I also cut the lower leaves so that nothing touches or is too near the soil. I have seen a few spots on the leaves of a couple of plants, but overall things are looking much better than last year. It's still early though so we'll see.

PP again- good call, I need to get out and cut the bottom branches off!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They've been watered plenty. In fact, they were positively drowned during those last major rains of 2-3 weeks ago and they started browning soon thereafter. I've grown tomatoes for many years and these ones look like mine usually do in September: branches dying from the bottom.

I already have two trellises of beans but, yeah, they're doing great. Maybe I can turn my whole yard over to beans.

Yeah it may be blight. This area is so favorable for tomato diseases! I had the same problem a couple years ago- i rotate between two beds but really need more time between each. Took a break altogether from tomatoes last year and so far so good. What about butternut squash? I’ve had good luck with that.

I had what might have been early blight and/or septoria leaf spot last year, but my tomatoes still survived and kept producing new vines and tomatoes. I just kept cutting the sick parts. This year, I am using my other bed (I also only have two), and planted them farther apart (2.5 feet), and I mulched the soil with leafgro. I also cut the lower leaves so that nothing touches or is too near the soil. I have seen a few spots on the leaves of a couple of plants, but overall things are looking much better than last year. It's still early though so we'll see.

+1 don't dig them up yet! Cut off the sick parts (you should prune tomatoes regardless), and I forget how to treat early blight, but even if you don't do much, you're still like to get tomatoes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They've been watered plenty. In fact, they were positively drowned during those last major rains of 2-3 weeks ago and they started browning soon thereafter. I've grown tomatoes for many years and these ones look like mine usually do in September: branches dying from the bottom.

I already have two trellises of beans but, yeah, they're doing great. Maybe I can turn my whole yard over to beans.

Yeah it may be blight. This area is so favorable for tomato diseases! I had the same problem a couple years ago- i rotate between two beds but really need more time between each. Took a break altogether from tomatoes last year and so far so good. What about butternut squash? I’ve had good luck with that.

I had what might have been early blight and/or septoria leaf spot last year, but my tomatoes still survived and kept producing new vines and tomatoes. I just kept cutting the sick parts. This year, I am using my other bed (I also only have two), and planted them farther apart (2.5 feet), and I mulched the soil with leafgro. I also cut the lower leaves so that nothing touches or is too near the soil. I have seen a few spots on the leaves of a couple of plants, but overall things are looking much better than last year. It's still early though so we'll see.

+1 don't dig them up yet! Cut off the sick parts (you should prune tomatoes regardless), and I forget how to treat early blight, but even if you don't do much, you're still like to get tomatoes!

Yeah, tomatoes are amazingly tough plants. They just kept growing new branches and kept growing fruit (at least the cherries). Even in my 5.5 hours of sun garden. Last year I had tossed one of my spare seedlings onto an open area next to our deck where I tend to discard plant debris. It rooted and started growing. Then my husband trampled it down and partially uprooted it when doing some work there and it seemed killed. A few days later, it bounced back. I think it even had a few tomatoes by the end of the summer, without any care whatsoever, and it wasn't even a cherry.