Need help from tomato growers

[flhiker]

I posted this question on another fourm (man what a hassle that was). So I decided to post it here too! My next door neighbor started 2 plants from seed in 5 gal. buckets and today he showed me this nasty looking growth coming from the side of the stalk about half way up. They look like roots forming but being that they are only 50ft. away from my plants I was worried that it may be a decease and affect my plants too. Anyone here know what it is? I grown tomatoes for many years and have never had this happen. Thanks

[flhiker]

sorry for the shameless but I'm kinda desperate for a answer.

[snakecharma]

Look like aerial roots to me - have had them happen lots over many growing seasons. Seems to occur more if the plants have had some water stress.

Can't show you any pics, its only just spring here any my tomatoes are too small yet.

Hope this helps, Kat.

[flhiker]

Originally Posted by snakecharma

Look like aerial roots to me - have had them happen lots over many growing seasons. Seems to occur more if the plants have had some water stress.

Can't show you any pics, its only just spring here any my tomatoes are too small yet.

Hope this helps, Kat.

Ok that makes sense. I will have to see if he drilled holes in the buckets. I grow all mine in the raised ground beds.

[camille1585]

Other than the stem, does the rest of the plant looks fine? I agree, it could be from water stress. If it got too much water or has bad drainage, the roots in the soil might be in bad shape, so the plant will grow aerial roots in an effort to save itself.
The other option is that the plant is infected with Phytoplasma, which is a plant parasitic bacteria, transmitted by insects. Aerial root production is among the symptoms, as well as multiple leaf or stem growth from one area, phyllody, and some other symptoms. As its a bacteria that needs a living host to survive, you will rarely see dead or nectrotic tissues. Aerial roots can also be a response to stress from other diseases.

[GreggC]

In five gallon buckets. I will tell you that I do not think that the tomato plants, unless by chance the are determinant varieties would have enough room to grow. An example of this would be a Roma variety. Most all of the fruit on this plant becomes ripe at the same time, whereas with an indeterminant, the darn things will grow until it frosts here and they will produce until that time. I could be wrong, but I don't believe that there is anything wrong with the tomato plant in question. It could be that the plant just does not have enough room, which could cause the stress.

[GreggC]

Determinant varieties are smaller in comparison.

[johnblagg]

pretty normal occurance ....tomatoes will root from cuttins and all along the stem

[flhiker]

Thanks everyone, I have been growing tomatoes near 30 years and have never seen this. But of course I have only grown them in the ground with sufficient room and drainage. Thanks again.

[DebsC]

Dave, I've been growing tomatoes for more years than I care to mention. I've often seen them do this. It's not a disease. If the rest of the plant looks healthy, leaves etc then I think your safe.