r/Sacratomato

Early Girl variety

Hi everyone, looking for help diagnosing my tomato plant. For reference I am in zone 9b. The leaves have started curling downward and drooping, mostly on the lower and outer leaves, but I don’t see any signs of pests or disease spots. The plant is still green overall and growing. A few details:

-Consistent watering schedule
-Raised bed with mulch
-Last fertilized May 1 with Espoma Tomato-tone (3-4-6)
-Added finely crushed eggshells around the soil about a week ago
-Full sun exposure

I haven’t noticed yellowing, holes, webbing, or bugs under the leaves. Temperatures have been warming up recently, so I’m wondering if it could be heat stress, watering issues, fertilizer, or something else.

I've found if you aren’t looking at your soil under a lens, you are managing your garden completely blind.

Two seasons ago, my heirloom tomatoes were yellowing and failing. I almost dropped $80 on heavy synthetic fertilizers and blight sprays. Instead, I scoped the soil.

The issue I came across was Zero fungal life and total nutrient lock-up. It was a biological ghost town.

I skipped the chemical sprays, brewed a quick aerated compost tea, and watched the microbes wake up under the lens. Within a week, the plants bounced back.

The microscope was the ultimate gardening security system!

Spotted root rot, bad nematodes, and anaerobic conditions before the plants showed symptoms.

Had to see if microbes were already cycling nutrients to stop wasting money on fertilizers and store-bought fixes.

Only planted last year and it’s bonkers!

This volunteer came up in my herb container so I gave it a a big pot to stretch its legs. It grew very slowly until it exploded this week, this entire time I figured it was a squacchini. I grew pumpkin, squash and zucchini last year. Is this a mf’er pumpkin? I cannot. I am not emotionally prepared. Pumpkins are not being planted til June!!

No idea how to do captions within the photo, so here's what I have:

1. Yolo Wonder Pepper

2. Sweet Italian Basil

3. Sun Gold, Alice's Dream, Snow White, Sweet 100 tomatoes plus a red chard between the two on the left

4. Brocade Marigolds

5. Jalapeno

6. Magellan Zinnias plus Pincushion flower

7. Sweet 100 x 2, Juliet, and Sun Gold tomatoes plus more chard (you can actually see this one)

8. More basil and marigolds

9. Boston pickling cucumber, Zinnia, and Basil

10. Onions, Chard, Red Salanova Butter Lettuce (end of its days

11& 12. June Bearing Sequoia Strawberry

13. Tomatillos

14. Black Cherry And Big Beef Tomato plus chard

And has anyone gotten them to fruit?

Tea anyone?

Chamomile, Lemon Thyme, Thyme, Oregano, Lemon Balm, Pineapple Mint

Has any of yall successfully got one to fruit in sac?

Little one has taken up residence on the lemon verbena

I ordered from chip drop. I've already used about three cubic yards and pile doesn't look any smaller!

It's mostly eucalyptus with some citrus too. DM me for the address, and come take as much as you need! I'm in South Land Park. I will not help shovel or deliver any, but if you want a bag full or a truck bed full, you're welcome to come load it up!

The Bret Harte Elementary school garden plant sale was a resounding success and Sacratomato was a key part of it! We raised over $1300 to purchase supplies and fund an expansion (blueberries!!).

So many people from Sacratomato came out to support the sale and check out the garden—thank you!!! It was incredible to connect with the community and share what we are doing in the garden. :) (For those that came the first day I’m sorry the rain prevented us from showing off the garden.) I was too busy to take any pictures during the sale so enjoy a picture of one of our resident caterpillars.

This was just the second plant sale we have held and the first year accepting orders in advance. I learned a lot and have new ideas for next year—hopefully next year is even smoother and better! If anyone has feedback or suggestions I would love to hear it! Including anything critical, I want the plant sale to be a great experience for everyone. So far I’ve got notes on more cucumber varieties, herb offerings, and growing Aji Dulce peppers next year.

Thanks again everyone!