yellow leaves on tomato plants(pics)

18 years ago

I have a tomato container garden on my patio. These plants started off strong, bearing fruit early.. I have noticed for the last week or two that many of the leaves are turning yellow. Here in my area we have had much rain in the last few weeks.

What is the problem??

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Comments (5)

carolyn137
18 years ago
Here in my area we have had much rain in the last few weeks.
What is the problem??

As long as there's no wilting of plants and no spots on the leaves there are two main reasons why you might be seeing yellow leaves at the base of the plants.

The first, with so much rain, is waterlogged soil so that the roots can't take up water or nutrients the result of which, leaves do turn yellow. If this is the case as the pots dry out conditions should improve.

Second, it could be just normal aging of leaves which happens at the bottom of the plants first.

In any case I'd take off those few yellow leaves so you can better monitor the situation.

Carolyn
deessenyc
18 years ago
I also have this problem but it's getting worse. Almost the entire bottom section of my plants are yellow or curling brown. They are still delivering great fruit and are over 8 feet tall now.... I keep thinking I'm watering wrong, but have tried both daily and every 2-3 days or so...

Is this normal..do they age as they are annuals and I should expect this?
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Comments (5)
Thanks for the replies. I did leave town for a few days so not quite sure about overwatering due to rain but it is possible. I did have the sprinklers setup to come one each day at 430AM for about 15 min. The previous week was pretty hot so I did not want the plants to die off due to lack of moisture. Most of my plants look pretty good but this group is affected by who knows what. The spray is made by Southern Ag (liquid copper fungicide). I followed the instructions and believe they called for 1 teaspoon per gallon. I mixed it in a gallon spray container with a hose and applied it in direct sunlight and about 82 degrees or so. I was thinking this may be the cause as well but not all plants are affected like this Big Rainbow. Hope this additional information helps.
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Tomato leaves yellowing (pic included)
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Comments (4)
How dry should I let them get? There is no moisture a finger length down in these new pots today. Good to go now? My fingers aren't exceptionally long, and there is still half a pot of space left. Kind of gun shy about watering now. I didn't plant out yet because here in the Bay Are we have our hottest months in the fall, particularly September and October. I start seeds around the first of April and plant out mid to late May to try to catch that heat. These plants came up exceptionally fast this year. I'm trying to hold them one more week before hardening off and planting out the weekend of the 17th.
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Comments (13)
I wouldn't fret too much about some yellow leaves here and there. Your toms look fine to me. My toms can sometimes look pretty shabby as the season progresses. That said, you want to avoid killing it with kindness. You might be getting some fried roots with a small black pot in direct sun. Water might not be penetrating the newspaper barrier on top of the soil. Tomatoes are resilient enough and do well enough if we just leverage their will to live. :) I grow toms year round in EarthBoxes using Dr Earth organic tom & veg fertilizer (5-7-4). One of the tenets of organic gardening is the use of water insoluble forms on nitrogen (Dr Earth fits the bill). Weekly/weakly fish emulsion and such is fine as well as a supplement, but not necessary. Organic EarthBox tomatoes:
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Comments (7)
Where did everyone go? This used to be such an active site! I used to post regularly and and I'd get tons of responses on the same day. Did everyone go to another forum? This is the second post I've made where no one has replied. That bums me out as this used to be such a great tomato community. Miss you all.... Don
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CAstarter
18 years ago
I always thought that as tomato plants get near the end of their season the lower older leaves inside the plant turn yellow and as they die I take them off. I have one now, 6-7' tall and doing great, except a pest I just found, and they have yellow leaves at base....interested to find out as well. Never thought it was a problem as long as plant growing and producing more fruit.
kimberlite77
17 years ago
We just got a TON of rain (I live in Vermont, and it's been raining straight for a week) and I have now noticed yellow leaves on my tomatoes. I am new to gardening, and got these tomatoes from seedlings, and just put them in two weeks ago. They "look" healthy, but I am worried about water levels. Too much water, not enough water, what do you think? The seedlings are about a foot tall now, and the leaves towards the bottom are the ones that are yellowing.

Any help would be really great!

Kim :)
carolyn137
17 years ago
Kim,

The situation will improve when it warms up, the weather clears and the sun shines.

In the meantime there's really nothing you can do.

I'm on the other side of Egg MT from Manchester so I do know what you're talking about.

my plants are not yet out. They never go out until about the 1st of June since the weather is so unsettled in May and early Jine.

So fingers crossed.

Carolyn

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yellow leaves on tomato plants(pics)

Comments (5)

carolyn137

deessenyc

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CAstarter

kimberlite77

carolyn137

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