Miles said:

Sorry, I'm sure you get this all the time, but recently some of my
tomato plants have developed a black and yellow leaves with black
patches on the stalks.

There are several varieties mixed in together.

In hindsight I know they are planted far too close together!

There is loads of fruit, but none has ripened yet.

So what should I do?

When will the the fruit start to ripen?

If I need to terminate the plant, can i rescue the fruit and ripen it
off the plant?

Looks like Late Blight, a HUGE problem this year in a large part of
the US:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/ny...8tomatoes.html

Terminate the infected plants (bag and trash). No fungicide will
save them.

Unaffected plants MAY be protected by fungicide applications but
brace yourself for the possibility of a total loss.

Scout around for weeds in the nightshade family which may also
be infected and get rid of them, too.

See pictures he

http://www.hort.cornell.edu/departme...rec/vegpath/ph
otos/lateblight_tomato.htm

--
Pat in Plymouth MI

"So, it was all a dream."
"No dear, this is the dream, you're still in the cell."

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