I don't really know much about identifying tomato diseases, but aren't the signs usually yellow leaves, wilting, spots, visible fungus or some combo thereof? When I hear small curled leaves it makes me think of my new rose enemy the chilli thrip. On roses the signs of chilli thrips are small stunted new growth and flowers. I think I remember reading that chilli thrips infest tomatoes too, but I have not seen this myself.

Hopefully some tomato experts will chime in if I am off base.

Bernie
Any chance you have been visited by whiteflies? I've been spraying for them for several weeks now. The small curly leaves are a sign of TYLC caused by WF's. Hope not -they are Terrible.

Larry

Glad Larry said it first, whitefly mean. That's what came to mind with your description. i also hope it's not that as it ruined my tomato season last year.

Denise

P.S. You can google TYLCV (Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus) for photos online of what the frizzled stunted leaves look like and compare to yours. Or take some leaves or photos to your extension office.

Good luck.

Denise,

I did take some leaves to the ext office, they did not mention TYLCV as culprit. I probably threw them off base though by suggesting that maybe my homemade horse stable compost might have a hay herbicide ( clopyralid)that persists through the animal and composting and can attack your plants. We concluded it was not likely, but they did not give me a diagnosis.

do you think I should be destroying these plants and what should I be spraying with to keep it from my other plants.

bernie

Bernie,

If it is TYLCV you should see that yellow "variegated" pattern in the smaller leaves, if not I'd highly suspect something in your most recent concoction while looking for nirvana in an SWC mix.

Tom

I did not recognize my problem as TYLCV for long while. I fertilized with Miracle-Gro but no growth after the first 2 months, no baby tomatoes, etc.

My leaves looked frizzled, stunted and a light green border around the small leaves. And then when you know what you're looking for you can see the whiteflies which carry the disease. Your plants can't infect your other ones but the whiteflies carry it from plant to plant. WF also reside in beans, peppers and other plants.

Really hope it something else.

I really hope it something else also, doubt anything could be worse from the horror stories with TYLCV. there is no sign of yellow yet and this has been developing for several weeks.
bernie

Bernie

I hope that you get your problem solved and that is not the feared disease.
As for my personal experience, I don't use anything organic in containers, for me it tends to attract bugs.
Maybe if you cut the leaves that look bad, making sure you sterilize the cutters either use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
I will dose them with a sprinkle from the hose and check for whiteflies, spider mites or others.
Spray on a weekly basis for bugs and disease.
If worse comes to worse, I have the seed that is resistant to whitefly, Margo. I can send you some, it is not going to be the Brandywine or Beefmaster,lol
I am growing them now and they are medium size, good producers, tough skin, flavor okay.

Silvia

I was thinking yellows as soon as I read Brandywine - that was the 1st heirloom I had that problem w/. I tried all 3 colors of Brandywine & all grew strong until about 3', then rapidly succumbed to yellows = (

There ARE resistant varieties, but it can be tiresome finding out which 1s.

FWIW, grape tomatoes I grew from seeds of store-bought fruits did great w/ little to no diseases. I also have a round red volunteer that seems to resist everything.

Of course you can always grow the VFFNTA hybrids, but once you've tasted heirloom varieties, those hybrids just seem so blah....

good news I think. this morning there were 2 small tomatoes on one of the brandywines that is showing the curled leaf. Since I do not see any WF's currently and am not seeing any yellow, am going to wait and see. stay turned.
bernie

Silvia - what product do you use to spray your tomatoes weekly ? Fungicide ? Insect spray ? What brands ?

I have tremendous respect for the GWs who can successfully grow tomatoes . I ain't one of 'em no matter how hard I try !

Bernie

You may be lucky and get to eat your Brandywines after all.

Mary

I use a very weak mixture of Spinosad and Serenade. I am including the link. The same products maybe found cheaper locally. I usually make a big order and get some things for free. They carry organic products.

Silvia

Here is a link that might be useful: Peaceful Valley Farm supply

Southern Ag has a distribution site in Bradenton, folks should be able to get spinosad locally at there favorite home-grown nursery, if not here's a link for product identification....

Serenade is another story, the link Silvia provided has EXCELLENT prices for both, in the concentrate. Having said that if shipping is reasonable that is definitely the way to go if you decide to use these bacteria to control pests.

Tom

Dr Carolyn Male from the tomato forum buys her white grow bags to grow her tomatoes in this site. Prices and service are very good.

The products usually last me a long time, and I do share it with my neighbors.

Silvia

Silvia, too bad you are not my neighbor :>)

Maybe we should get a FGW buy of a quantity and distribute it at a get together sometime!

bernie

Thanks for all the good advice .

Hi Bernie

I wish you were my neighbor too. It is nice to live around people with similar interests who like to share things.
I introduced my neighbors to growing tomatoes and I started them with the products to use on them in small bottles, told them how to use it. And they are very successful now.

It pays to buy in big quantities because I think after you pay certain amount the shipping is free or you get free seeds your choice. It is something like that.

It would be a good idea to trade in a swap, especially when you buy concentrate, it does last a long time.

Let us know how your tomatoes are doing and have a great season!

Silvia

http://cgi.ebay.com/SERENADE-GARDEN-DISEASE-CONTROL-CONC-32OZ-FREE-SHIP_W0QQitemZ400010004110QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5d2274468e#ht_573wt_941

I haven't ever ordered from this place but the price is good for a small user like me.

Another possible problem for your tomatoes is the unseasonably hot weather for this time of year. It's in the low 90s and should be in the low 80s with temps at night in the low to mid 70s. Tomato plants (most varieties) will not set fruit until night temps are 72 degrees or below.

Happily, I heard a cool front might be on its way.

Sheri

Sheri, I'm not so much concerned that the tomatoes are not setting fruit because I know the late season hot weather will keep them from setting fruit, but did not think it would make the small wrinkled new leaves.

Just trying to rule out every possible factor that could cause your leaf problem. But, yes, it's much more likely due to something else as was mentioned in the above posts. Sure hope it's not the dreaded whitefly virus.

How are the leaves and plants as I write this message?

--
Sheri

I'm glad you posted pics of the tomato plants because I have the same problem, also on my pepper plants, and I have sprayed with Sevin.. also fed them good with Miracle-Gro so I have lots of tall green stuff but still have the curled leaves and yellow holes.... I have not seen any white-flies but that doesn't mean they are not there......saldut