First off, an indeterminate tomato plant needs more soil. Use an 28 gallon tote (with holes drilled for drainage) next time.
Use sterile potting mix. Garden soil and compost may carry foliar diseases.
When you plant the seedling, make sure your hands are dry and the leaves are dry. Before planting, cover the soil with landscape fabric, arranged to cover the soil and right up on top (no air gaps below).
To plant, cut a plus sign in the landscape fabric and use a trowel to move the soil aside, below the landscape fabric. Move the soil back, for good contact with the roots. But do not get any soil on the stem or leaves.
Immediately place a thick layer of mulch on top of the landscape fabric. This is to prevent splash back, in heavy rains.
Tomato plants grown in containers don’t need as much fertilizer as you might imagine. Chemical fertilizer (miracle grow) can build up in the soil, especially if the container is too small.
When you water, do not get the leaves wet. Water into the container directly.
I’m guessing, because I don’t see mulch in your container, that heavy rain caused splashing of the soil onto the lower leaves. This plant and the soil in its container should be considered contaminated with tomato foliar disease now. They are fine for your compost bin or pile, as long as you use new potting mix next year.
Your plant did well! It produced fruit. Try a little different method next year.
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First off, an indeterminate tomato plant needs more soil. Use an 28 gallon tote (with holes drilled for drainage) next time.
Use sterile potting mix. Garden soil and compost may carry foliar diseases.
When you plant the seedling, make sure your hands are dry and the leaves are dry. Before planting, cover the soil with landscape fabric, arranged to cover the soil and right up on top (no air gaps below).
To plant, cut a plus sign in the landscape fabric and use a trowel to move the soil aside, below the landscape fabric. Move the soil back, for good contact with the roots. But do not get any soil on the stem or leaves.
Immediately place a thick layer of mulch on top of the landscape fabric. This is to prevent splash back, in heavy rains.
Tomato plants grown in containers don’t need as much fertilizer as you might imagine. Chemical fertilizer (miracle grow) can build up in the soil, especially if the container is too small.
When you water, do not get the leaves wet. Water into the container directly.
I’m guessing, because I don’t see mulch in your container, that heavy rain caused splashing of the soil onto the lower leaves. This plant and the soil in its container should be considered contaminated with tomato foliar disease now. They are fine for your compost bin or pile, as long as you use new potting mix next year.
Your plant did well! It produced fruit. Try a little different method next year.