skip to main content

Vegetable Gardening

Help! Tomato & Pepper leaves are yellowing/browning!

greengardener07

16 years ago

Can someone help me out with this problem? My tomato plants leaves are turning yellow and browning on the edges. The one actually has fruit (Joliet Tomato plant), but the leaves look really sad. My pepper plants leaves, although not browning, are yellowing. Ironically, my cukes, beans and carrots are out of control!

I planted everything in two raised bed gardens, and the peppers and tomatos are in different beds. I filled the beds with a mix of potting mix and peat moss and mulched with licorice root.

What did I do wrong? Did I not give enough nutrients? I was thinking of adding composted manure and humus as a top dressing to help give nutrients.

Any suggestions?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

carol_71
16 years ago
Is it possible for you to post a picture? It would be easier for someone with knowledge (not me, sorry) to help you.
In the meantime, I wouldn't take desperate measures like adding anything, instead, check the soil around the roots for moisture or lack of it, if there's a bug, etc.
Best luck!
Carol
txchristie
16 years ago
Could it be spider mites? I'm having the same problem w/ one tomato--the one getting a little shade. The other peppers and tomatoes are fighting off the invader, apparently.
Related Discussions
Yellowing leaves, brown patches and black spots on my tomato?
Q
Comments (6)
Hi! I'm so sorry, Jean001a, I haven't replied sooner but i have been away (got the neighbor to look after the garden :). Thank you for you response. I had used miracle grow organic all purpose plant food NPK: 7-6-7 when i transplanted the plants to their grow bags. (i don't know what it is made up of though). Luckily it seems as though they have recovered. the leaves are mostly green. However, i think that the fertilizer had too much nitrogen as the plants are now 1m tall and are only just starting to set their first trusses of flowers.
...See More
Tomato leaves mottled yellow and brown
Q
Comments (1)
That could be one or several things. Perhaps water stress, excess bright light (could have been relatively brief, a day or so) and/or lack of fertilizer. It would help if we could see additional images. Useful would be the plant overall and perhaps one of the general area they are growing in.
...See More
tomato leaves yellowing and edges turning brown
Q
Comments (2)
I'm only watering if the ground is completely dry. But for the past week or so it's required watering every morning. The fertilizer is supposed to be applied about every 10 days which I'm currently doing so I don't think there's too much fertilizer on the plants.
...See More
Why are my tomato leaves yellow/brown?
Q
Comments (12)
Are you sure you're watering enough/water is getting to the root zone effectively? It really looks like drought stress to me. At any rate, aside from double-checking your watering and adjusting it if necessary, all you can do is keep pruning off affected foliage and spray fungicide regularly. The fruit looks like it has BER. It can occasionally occur on the side of the fruit, and I think I see signs of it internally at the bottom as well. This would support a problem with watering. The leaf in the third pic is wilted because it's broken. Probably damage from a storm/wind, an animal, or even from you as you work on the plant/tie it up/etc. I really think this is all an issue with watering.
...See More
billv
16 years ago
How long has it been since you transplanted? If recently and relatively few lower leaves are involved, I would call it pretty common.
greengardener07
Original Author
16 years ago
It has been about three weeks since I transplanted. I tried from seed, but they did not take, so I bought these plants at a reputable nursery, which I have been going to for years.

Could it be that the soil is draining too fast?
billv
16 years ago
I would think the plants should have taken hold in three weeks. Assuming you see no insect pests and the plants are getting sufficient water, I guess it could be draining too fast and taking nutirents with it. I have seen that happen with really sandy soil but why aren't the beans and cukes affected. Maybe the problem is that my experience is with the dirt that came with my house and I know squat about licorice root. You might try to get some nitrogen to the plants with the recipe you mentioned or some water soluable Miracle Grow.

Related Stories

EDIBLE GARDENS Summer Crops: How to Grow Tomatoes

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant tomato seedlings in spring for one of the best tastes of summer, fresh from your backyard

GARDENING GUIDES Summer Crops: How to Grow Peppers

By Marianne Lipanovich

Some like 'em hot; others like them sweet. With the incredible range of peppers available for home gardens, you can have your pick

PETS 6 Ways to Help Your Dog and Landscape Play Nicely Together

By Marianne Lipanovich

Keep your prized plantings intact and your dog happy too, with this wisdom from an expert gardener and dog guardian

COLOR 10 Reasons to Make a Splash With Tomato Red

By Laura Gaskill

You won’t duck at these tomatoes. See how bold red shades can play up architecture, light up a dark spot and add drama

MOST POPULAR 7 Ways to Design Your Kitchen to Help You Lose Weight

By Mitchell Parker

In his new book, Slim by Design, eating-behavior expert Brian Wansink shows us how to get our kitchens working better

FALL GARDENING 5 Ways to Put Fall Leaves to Work in Your Garden

By Therese Ciesinski

Improve your soil and yard the organic way with a valuable garden booster that grows on trees

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Saturated Colors Help a 1920s Fixer-Upper Flourish

By Madison Modern Home

Bright paint and cheerful patterns give this Spanish-style Los Angeles home a thriving new personality

PETS How to Help Your Dog Be a Good Neighbor

By Alison Hodgson

Good fences certainly help, but be sure to introduce your pup to the neighbors and check in from time to time

DECORATING GUIDES 9 Easy Ways to Decorate With Autumn Leaves

By Vanessa Brunner

Give your home a burst of color that can be used Halloween through Thanksgiving

GARDENING GUIDES What's Wrong With My Plant? Leaves Often Hold the Clues

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Learn how to identify common plant ailments by reading their leaves

Sponsored

More Discussions

How often to add soil sulfur?

5

Al's Potting Mix-pine bark fines

6

Tiny leaf bite marks

4

Planting beans in the same place twice in back to back year?

5

Confused about overwintered potato plants

3