[alit]

Hi - i'm new to this forum so 'Hi!!'

My mum has grown tomatoes for years but for the last few years she is having some problems with them.....it almost seems like the top and down the sides have been cooked. the tops dont turn red and are hard when cut open/eaten. the flavour is lovely but the texture and feel is not good!

Im attaching some pictures to see if any of you clever people have any idea what it might be....we thought maybe the greenhouse is getting so hot that its cooking the fruit so we have 'whitewashed' the glass but it hasnt really made alot of difference we dont think.

Any advice would be great...thanks in advance

Ali.

[John]

I'm 95% sure it is 'greenback' caused by too high temperatures and / or lack of potassium. Ideal temperature for tomatoes is around 21 C and it has actually been too hot for them.

You can buy resistant varieties but too late for this year. Try using Miracle Grow to feed with for a bit (very high potassium) and it may help with fruit developing.

[Oliver]

I'm 95% sure it is 'greenback' caused by too high temperatures and / or lack of potassium. Ideal temperature for tomatoes is around 21 C and it has actually been too hot for them.

You can buy resistant varieties but too late for this year. Try using Miracle Grow to feed with for a bit (very high potassium) and it may help with fruit developing.

Agree with John. What variety are they?

If the tomatoes go brown and drop off the plant that's black rot. Baaad news. Remove all traces of dropped fruit and the plant and burn it. Don't plant tomatoes on the same place next year.

[alit]

hi - thanks for your advice guys - it would seem that its greenback....we have white washed the outside of the greenhouse so we will have to see if the same thing happens with the younger tomatoes that havent started rippening yet....

They are Ailsa Craig (sp?)

They arent turning brown and dropping off tho. Mum has grown tomatoes plants for years and years and its never happened until last year.