Garden Pests and Diseases: Disease? Fungus? bugs? Top leaves turning black Help please`, 1 by Suny_Freebird

Suny_Freebird wrote:
Thanks yawl,

Erzsebet - yes it does all seem confusing, but not totally impossible. Seems as though you diagnosed the problem very well from just a picture and short description. I passed the info along to my friend. He has removed all the affected leaves/tops - gave good dose of epsom salts, dusted with wood ash and the plants seem to have recovered beautifully.

A week or so later I discovered similar -- but not exact traits on some of my tomato plants. These are in a wood square in the front - to be closer to the house than the garden for comfort of running out and getting a fresh tomato or two -- and only a couple of plants on one side were funky and wilted looking. I cut these off and destroyed in my fire circle. Then today after a good rain last night, I was looking at my plants and found the culprit. It's a worm but not the green horned ugly thing. This one is black with green stripe -- Tomato worm?

So I found two and picked them off then dusted all the plants with a mixture of diatomaceous earth and wood ash I saved from my stove this winter.

Birder - thanks for the info. I'll certainly check out the tomato forum and look for Carolyn. I grow a lot of things, but tomatoes are my favorite.

My friend says thanks, also. He has no interest in having or using a computer himself so I am more than glad to look up anything he needs. He's my best friend and gardening buddy. His passion is sweet potatoes!!

Suny