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Vegetable Gardening

Yellow Leaves on Tomato Seedlings

15 years ago

I have several tomato seedlings started in small peat pots. The have been growing under a flourescent light for about two weeks and were doing well until a few days ago.

The true leaves are just tiny buds and won't come out. The first two leaves are very skinny and almost look deformed. They are also starting to show a yellow shade.

Am I being impatient or does it sound like a problem?

Could it be true that I need to put them in bigger pots?

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Comments (2)

justaguy2
15 years ago
Make sure you are not over watering and that the growing media has a small amount of nutrients in it and after that some light and they should be good to go.

The yellowing of the seed leaves is normal though. They are used up by the plant and thus they yellow and die.
jimster
15 years ago
The seed leaves usually will stay green for a long time if soil moisture is maintained at the right level, not too wet, not too dry. The seed leaves on mine yellowed when I let the soil (soiless seed starting mix actually) get too dry for a day or so. It's one sign of stress.

I wonder if your soil is tightly packed. Loose is better. Loose soil allows air for the roots, which is important. Go to the Hot Pepper Forum for an interesting thread on hydrogen peroxide. It's a way of oxygenating the soil.

Jim

Here is a link that might be useful: Hydrogen Peroxide
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I read your post... my seedlings leaves are turning yellow too. I have them in slow release fertilizing potting soil. All of my 100 other seedlings I'm growing are doing great, except for my "delicious" variety tomatoes and "Roma" seedlings. They are growing..but the leaves are really yellow. Is this normal?
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Okay, glad you posted the pictures Click for Pics because that IS NOT Nitrogen deficiency. The yellowing shown in your pictures is intervenal chlorosis, yellowing beginning at the leaf margins and progressing towards midribs - leaving a lacy yellow pattern between the remaining green ribs, and is the result of micronutrient deficiency. Maybe iron, maybe magnesium. Those would be my first two guesses as they are the first to show up because soilless growing media do not contain them in sufficient quantity for plant health. Either way, use the Ironite or Ferti-Lome liquid iron suppliment. Both have complete micronutrients. Until you purchase one or the other, give your plants a dose of Epsom salts, one tablespoon per gallon. Yes, one full tablespoon per gallon as some of your plants are getting to an advanced stage of chlorosis. Epsom salts = magnesium sulfate. I think it will help. Cannot possibly hurt. You may already have sufficient nitrogen, phosphorus and potasium (NPK) in the soilless potting mix because you already dosed it with Miracle Gro ... evidenced by some of the other seedlings being plenty green, okay? It's just sitting there available to the yellowing plants but they need a vitamin pill to assist their ability to take up the NPK. Think of it that way. All plants are not created equal. It will take a day or three for the little ones to green back up. But they will. Well except for the leaves where they've gotting tan, brown and crusty. Those are gone. You can trim off the crispy parts. But the leaves that are yellow and green lacy pattern, those will green back up.
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95% of the time yellowing of leaves on seedlings is due to over-watering. Cut your watering in half. You can transplant them into new, bigger containers with a mild fertilizer charge in the new mix if you can't plant them in the garden now. The yellow leaves will die and fall off but the new growth should be ok. Dave
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