No luck with Tomatos

[Joe]

We have tried to grow different varities of tomatos in our garden for 5 years with no luck. We have 3 mature Black Walnut trees nearby (about 50 feet). Does anyone know how close these trees can be to effect my tomato plants?

[backyardgardener]

Can you provide a little more information about your tomatos?* How high do they grow?* Do you every see a flower on the plants?** What is your soil structure like?

[Joe]

The plants do bloom, set fruit and remain somewhat healthy throughout the season (4 feet). The soil is sandy loam and dark in color. I have rotated the plants throughout the garden.The fruit itself just doesn't get to its full size and seems to take forever to ripen and as soon as it does its over ripe or has spots.

[backyardgardener]

Please provide a photo of the fruit with the spots.

[backyardgardener]

[align=left]Here is another thought to grow a tomato:[/align]
[align=left]http://backyardgardener.com/gp/Garde...mato_Tree.html[/align]
[align=left]I had a merchant request a Add URL link.. Same process[/align]
[align=left]http://topsyshop.com
[/align]

[Newt]

Hi Joe,

Walnuts produce juglone that many plants cannot tolerate.* I would think you would see problems sooner then you describe if it was from the walnuts.* This site lists plants that do not tolerate walnut juglone.* The veggies are at the very bottom of the page and tomatoes aren't listed as being sensitive.
http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/yate.../MG4.25.01.htm

And if you want to be further confused, this site lists tomatoes as sensitive to walnut wilt.
http://plantdiagnostics.umd.edu/level3.cfm?causeID=212

The thing is, what you describe doesn't sound like walnut wilt.* I'm thinking you might be seeing something like late blight and/or a fungal problem such as cottony leak which makes it watery and overripe.* Anthracnose is another possibility.* Save this tomato disorders site for future reference.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/t...ver/index.html

Newt