Curling Tomato Leaves

RE: Curling Tomato Leaves Post By Jackie (Guest Post) (08/06/2008) My big boy leaves curled too at the bottom (older leaves) just as you all have mentioned but there is plenty of new growth at the top that is uneffected. I live in southern 'DESERT' california and it gets VERY hot here (it's been 100F every day this summer). I water three times a day for 4 minutes (7am, 12pm, 2pm) on a drip system to avoid wilting leaves at mid-day which in the past induced stress and lead to disease (it took me a while to figure that out). I also hose down my plants at night because otherwise they get no moisture whatsoever on their folliage which also leads to disease and infestation (such as spider mites which have killed my whole vegetable garden three years running). For the first time in three years I have healthy plants. So the big boys did drop their flowers for the first 6 weeks probably due to too much water and too much heat, and a few leaves curled but they're alive still. They're about 7' tall now and I noticed three tomatoes that have set and they seem healthy. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Curling Tomato Leaves Post By michael (Guest Post) (06/28/2008) Thanks for that input. I have big boy tomatoes and my front tomato plants leaves have begun to curl, and I was wondering what was going on. I have 6 plants. I think there's about 40 tomatoes on there. They are not ripe yet, but when they do. Lord knows. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Curling Tomato Leaves Post By Matt (Guest Post) (06/28/2008) My plants are not getting bushy and growth has become verticle, with few secondary branches. New leaves almost immediately turn yellow and fruit buds won't set. I've done some trimming of the affected leaves at the bottom of the plant, am applying a fungicide, but I believe I may have contracted leaf curl. Seems many are having this affliction. My only solution left will be to water heavily, which is the only thing I have done differently this year (I've been watering less than last year, due to the rains we've had). Report Spam or Abuse RE: Curling Tomato Leaves Post By Matt (Guest Post) (06/28/2008) My plants are not getting bushy and growth has become verticle, with few secondary branches. New leaves almost immediately turn yellow and fruit buds won't set. I've done some trimming of the affected leaves at the bottom of the plant, am applying a fungicide, but I believe I may have contracted leaf curl. Seems many are having this affliction. My only solution left will be to water heavily, which is the only thing I have done differently this year (I've been watering less than last year, due to the rains we've had). Report Spam or Abuse RE: Curling Tomato Leaves Post By KZ, Altoona PA (Guest Post) (06/22/2008) I have some Big Girls and a Better Boy that I planted early under walls of water. They are ahead of the rest of my tomatoes, which are of different variety. Oddly, they too have lower leaves that curl forward although healthy green. We had real cool weather early and mid May, which gave way to very hot humid weather and very little rain. I have watered them well and mulched with compost and grass clippings which does keep them moist but not soaking wet. The biggest thing that worries me right now is the lack of bees around to pollinate. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Curling Tomato Leaves Post By Hal (Guest Post) (07/11/2007) Came on as a volunteer in package of Wild Flowers has fruit on the shape of roma tomatoes. All leaves curled inward What are they? Report Spam or Abuse life of seeds Post By eileen (Guest Post) (06/18/2007) this year i planted some tomato seeds from tomatoes in my father's garden who died 27 years ago so the seeds are older than 27 years. they came up fine and i have some lovely plants waiting to give birth to the beautiful tomatoes which my father grew. i am excited to see what they will be like...wow! the miracle of life... Report Spam or Abuse RE: Curling Tomato Leaves Post By mint (Guest Post) (05/28/2007) my brothers plants are curling. but once they start 2 days later they are dead. they go from strong health plants 2 curling then die. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Curling Tomato Leaves Post By holmes (Guest Post) (05/24/2007) tomatoes looked great, then it got real hot and the leaves curled up. they still look good and green. i had been keeping the soil pretty moist. my wife claimed i water to often so i let the soil go for a day so i think that and the intense sun curled them. i guess i'll know tomorrow. i watered them good hoping it will go away tomorrow. i would hate to hate out 30 plants. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Curling Tomato Leaves Post By Rev. Alex (Guest Post) (08/08/2005) More water helped mine when leaves curled. You can keep seed packets up to a year in the refrigerator. Hope this helps. Report Spam or Abuse Archived Request: Tomato Plants Leaves are Curling Up Post by ThriftyFun (3755) | (08/07/2005) Profile | Blog! | Contact I have 2 tomato plants. Both appear ill. All the leaves are turning up on all the edges. What does this mean? L.A. in La. Report Spam or Abuse Yellow leaves, dying from bottom up Post By fixiyguy (Guest Post) (07/26/2005) Thinking of funeral arrangements for my tomato plants. In 5 Gallon buckets with (4) 3/8" holes in the bottom/side w/limestone gravel to cover holes inside. The Plants grew rapidly from 4-6" plants to 2 ft in 2+ weeks. Now they are all blighted just as the fruit is beginning to ripen. Same soil as last year but added potting soil when transplanting. Big Boy/ Better Boy/ Early girl, all look sick. Reason for buckets: Heavily wooded property, but good sun on deck all day. Marengo, Ohio area... Report Spam or Abuse RE: Tomato Plants Leaves are Curling Up Post by jannetoh (1) | (07/08/2005) Contact Just wanted to add my thoughts on your tomatos. I am having the same problem. Three of my heirloom tomatoes are in huge pots on the patio. They are different varities. But they all have the lower leaves curling up, with the very tips of some brown and crunchy. The plants are otherwise heathly and growing with buds and some fruit. I was and still am a little puzzled. But after researching the problem and talking to growers, I think my problem is caused by the fact that they are in containers, and have been recently, severely pruned(I cut off the lower stems and shoots to prevent the leaves from getting diseases by touching the dirt and getting splash back from watering) and I have also been doing some inconsistent watering. So if you have been doing alot of pruning, or training the plants to grow on stakes this could cause it. And the sites I looked at all said that it wouldn't affect the fruit. I ruled out the disease "tomato leaf curl" because the leaves curl downward not upwards. Hope this is encouraging. Bye Report Spam or Abuse RE: Tomato Plants Leaves are Curling Up Post By Mary McLuckie (Guest Post) (06/08/2005) Can't say that I've ever had that problem with my tomatoes, (leaf curl) but if I may offer a few suggestions on a healthy tomato plant, then please read on... When I first plant my seeds in January for a small backyard garden, I place them in a seed tray and put them in my bedroom window (it gets the most sun and/or daylight) During the day, I put a peice of Saran Wrap over the top of the tray right after spraying (make sure you spray and not drown your seeds by pouring on the water). At night, I remove the wrap so no mildew forms during the winter months. By the way, I place a heating pad under the tray and keep it on low at all times (unless it gets hot outside, of course) until the seedlings start to appear. Then turn off the heating pad. When the seedlings have at least four leaves on them, plant in two to four inch seedling plastic planters. I sometimes just use styrofoam cups with three holes for drainage punctured on the sides towards the bottom of the cup. Early in the morning, after watering the seedlings...(It is safe now to actually water them...carefully); I run the flat bottom part of my hand over the tops of the plants (remember to actually brush the leaves with the palms of your hands). For some reason this strengthens the stalk. I've heard that the nitrogen from your breath (talking to them) helps in their growth as well. When the tomato plant looks sturdy enough, start putting your plants outside in the daytime to harden off. If it's a really windy day or a bit too cool, I sometimes put my seedlings into a mini green house (a structure with two shelves and plastic wrap that zips around it) that I purchased from Big Lots for $20 apiece two or three years ago. Remember to bring them in at night. When all threat of frost is gone, plant your seedlings with the stem 'sideways' rather than straight in the ground. This insures a stronger plant. Set in about 3 or 4 solid stakes around the plant right away. You'll need these to help support your plants at a later date. The herb Basil makes for good companion planting as well. It wards off certain insects detrimental to the tomato. Planting some Marigolds close by also seems to help ward off the pesky critters. Using these methods almost always insures me of good, healthy tomatoes. I haven't even seen a hornworm in several years. Of course, you might want to keep an eye out for them...just in case. Don't forget to fertilize. I use a liquid fertilizer...Miracle Gro is my favorite about every 4 to 6 weeks...depending. Used coffee grounds help with these acidic plants as well. If you follow these procedures, you should have a healthy plant with great tasting tomatoes. Also, don't forget to water early in the a.m. or in the evening hours as often as needed. I live in North Central California and it gets really HOT here in the summer, so I water at least once a day...sometimes twice. Remember...This depends on where you live and how hot it gets. As for the leaf curl, I think I'd just dig the plant up and discard. Remember to rotate your crops every year or two. Good luck and good eating. Mary McLuckie twstr2u@aol.com Report Spam or Abuse RE: Tomato Plants Leaves are Curling Up Post By guest (Guest Post) (06/08/2005) Mine were doing that and my mother said they weren't getting enough water and that they need about a gallon a day! I was shocked, but it started raining like crazy and now they are big and healthy and have lots of tomatoes on them! I also put a little vegetable fertilizer around them (not up by the plant itself) and the rain washed it into the soil. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Tomato Plants Leaves are Curling Up Post by Suitsme (51) | (06/07/2005) Profile | Blog! | Contact It could be a disease that is in the soil. Or it could be from smoking cigaretts then touching the plant without washing your hands. If I were you I would get rid of those plants and buy new disease resistant ones. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Tomato Plants Leaves are Curling Up Post by skbeal (71) | (06/07/2005) Profile | Blog! | Contact If I am correct in thinking that you live in Louisiana, and you have had a lot of rain very recently (as have I in Central Texas,) then a good guess would be that the plants have had way too much water. Are you also noticing that the tips of some of the leaves appear to be turning brown? Some hot dry weather should take care of that. However, if you start to notice holes in the leaves, white spots, etc., you may be dealing with some sort of insect infestation. If you want to err on the side of caution, you can use regular dish soap. I use a tiny amount of dish soap and dilute it in a substantial amount of water -- probably something like 10:1, and spray the plants with that. The dish soap sometimes successfully washes the insects away, and saves the plant. You don't have to worry about doing this when there is fruit on the plant because the dish soap is perfectly harmless. I hope this helps. Report Spam or Abuse