Tomato Seedlings might have a virus...?

[brandynickels]

This is the first year I am gardening, so I'm not sure what it could be, but I'm pretty sure there is something wrong. A lot of my tomato seedlings, which have been doing grandly so far, are getting spots on some of their leaves. They are white-ish spots with small black dots. I don't know if this can spread or not, so I have seperated the ones that have it from the ones that don't (well, they might have it but it hasn't showed up yet). The only thing I could think that might cause a disease is the girl upstairs who smokes out on her balcony and drops the butts on our balcony (I'm in OK and it was really warm for a while so I had the plants outside). I have read about how deadly smoking around tomato plants can be, but I looked up photos of tobacco mosaic virus and it doesn't look the same. Any thoughts?

[runawayredhead]

It may be septoria. My tomato seedlings have it and it started with my Tiny Tims (did not purchase at Baker Creek) It's a virus and it comes out in wet weather. I had to destroy some plants and think I have arrested the virus in others by picking off the affected leaves and mulching the soil also moved the ones in pots under a carport to keep some of the rain off them. FYI my Arkansas Traveler was not even affected by this while the Brandywines were but just barely so. It seems to me that maybe Tiny Tims are more likely to get it. Any ideas out there about what I could use as a dust or spray that would not kill hummingbirds and lady bugs ect...

[mrtomatoexpres]

hi go to spray and grow .com they have something called activate i have to get it to :mad: also try gardenalive.com they have good stuff to. runawayredhaed i have tiny tim,yellow canary,micro tom,florida petite. the kids get a kick out of them. i just gave away my last minnie tomatoe plant to one of the kids. so i will start more. the littlest kid is 2 1/2 i had to start a litte garden for her. her mother asked me,i said no problem. now the kid is of to a great start. a lot of the kids have gardens now it puts something into there head when they get older. some say the want to do this for a living there parents are happy keeps them off the street and out of trouble. :cool: :)

[runawayredhead]

I have given some plants to a assisted living home. The elderly miss their gardens so much when they are forced to leave their homes. I am taking some tomato plants to my 3 year old grandaughter also. The assisted living center hopes to be able to eat some of the vegetables they are growing and they are already using the herbs that they started last year. Good for you giving the children plants. I started gardening at a very young age and it has served me well as a stress reliever all of my life. Keep up the good work.

[JackiMac]

Yeppers...sounds a bit like Septoria. I have the same trouble and with the humidity here I can not get rid of it so....I put 3 whole newspaper sheets down around my plants to avoid the rain splash and I just lift them a bit when I water them...I guess maybe you wouldn't really have to raise them for watering...depends on you :)
My kids insist on their own plants...naturally I have to watch the watering and I have to be the one to look for bugs but...my kids have never been "picky" eaters...they'll eat spinach, squash, tomatoes, one will eat onions right out of the ground...the other prefers corn even before it can be washed...and they both love soybeans lightly salted. That comes from always having the fresh veggies available when possible I THINK ;) They love to watch this tiny little seed turn into a melon or big 'ol squash! The amazement in their eyes is worth all the extra dirt tracked into the house and the mud....dead over watered plants etc...
Anyhow, my 5 yr old just planted all of his "Big Boy" tomatoes because they are just like him and if it keeps him interested and amazed by life in general...I'm all for it...we planted out some veggies for his friends next door...their parents don't have time to garden and they are truly in disbelief about all the things we have, so Connor gave them some to! He planted them near enough to the fence so Melody and Caleb can water them and watch them...it's raining right now and they are both outside trying to put an umbrella up to "save" the plants we are sharing! LOL I better run out and see what I can do to help'em....ROFL...Kids! Ya gotta love'em!! Besides...I've rambled enough...can you tell I love being a gardening mom?! :D
Mrtomato and runaway...I WISH we had more folks like you :)