Newly planted out tomatoes have pale leaves?

15 years ago

So I transplanted some tomatoes in the ground last Sunday under a tunnel cloche- it's rather early for my area, but I wanted to take a shot at using a cloche to extend my season. Nights have gotten to around mid to low 40s, although I think that the cloche keeps them at least a few degrees warmer than the outside temps, as well as keeping the ground warm. During the day I believe they have had plenty of warmth (60*+ F) in the tent.

SO I checked on the tomatoes today, and their foliage is very pale. They don't otherwise seem to be suffering too badly thoug: The main stem and branches have purpled a bit, but I checked under the leaves and the their undersides are NOT turning purple, thankfully. Also, I don't see heavy drooping or serious necrosis in the leaves.

When I transplanted the tomatoes I gave them half a gallon of water each, and ground under the cloche is still pretty damp down to several inches, so I did not water them again today. They also got a couple of cups of of powdered organic 7-4-9 organic fertilizer.

So I was wondering- are the leaves yellowing because the plant is simply shocked from transplant (it's only been five days)? Are they just cold? Could they be not getting enough sun under the tent (it has been cloudy a couple of days)? Could they be too damp, or too dry? Maybe they weren't hardened enough before planting? Another thing- the cloche was not very well ventilated until I cut a couple of small flaps into it today, so maybe poor air circulation or reduced sunlight (caused by fogging) hurt them? Luckily, I am pretty sure they did not catch any diseases in the humidity.

Perhaps anyone who has planted tomatoes out like this in somewhat cool conditions can tell me if this is something to worry about... Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

freemangreens
15 years ago
Just off the top of my head it sounds like a combination of too much water and not enough light; just a guess.
jwr6404
15 years ago
To much water. I had the same problem with a couple tomato's. I had planted and watered them,with a little root gro, as I planted. A friend of the Mrs,whom I had just given plants,not aware that I had watered as I planted decided to be helpful. She had saturated 3 plants before I noticed what she was doing. I have 3 very light green plants. Time and thirst will cure the problem I believe.
Related Discussions
Pale spots on tomato leaves?
Q
Comments (1)
Hello? He....He...Hello??? LOL. Bump. I'll give the tomato forum a shot....
...See More
Pale tomato and cucumber leaves
Q
Comments (5)
Here in Madison, Wisconsin, the soil in our backyard is pretty high in clay content, and it gets clumpy and sticky when its wet. We have a compost pile, mostly shredded leaves in the fall, and every spring I dig out the finished compost, and put it on the garden plot. Then we dig it in and mix it well with the native soil. We have been at this for 10 years, and the garden plot is now very easy to work, more like a loam. Since I grow blueberries, I am checking soil pH every year, because blueberries need soil on the acidic side, pH in the range 4.5 to 6, in order to thrive. When I test the garden soil, the pH is around 7.5. The reason I suspect that your soil has high pH, is that you mentioned leaves that are pale green, or yellow. This is a sign of high pH, although it can also be caused by a lack of nutrient in the soil. If you put down some Miracle-Gro, and the problem goes away, then I guess you corrected a nutrient problem. If the plants continue to have pale green leaves, then it might be pH too high. I know from experience that amending the soil with lots of compost will help, but you might also have to consider an application of agricultural sulfur. It takes a few months for the soil microbes to consume the sulfur, and therefore it will take a few months for the pH to drop. So this is a more long term solution. You will need a reliable, accurate soil pH test before you can apply sulfur with confidence.
...See More
Spotted Leaves, Pale Green Leaves & Spotted Leaves
Q
Comments (1)
It does look like nutrient deficiencies, which have the twin benefits of being slow and correctable. The interveinal yellowing, where the veins stay green, is more likely magnesium than iron... but the real way to tell is where it's happening. Magnesium starts at the bottom, iron starts at the top. The pictures make me guess it's the former; you could mix up a tablespoon or so of epsom salts in a spray bottle and spritz down the plants, and see whether the leaves color up again. The yellow leaves probably are nitrogen, and a light foliar feed is very unlikely to give them too much nitrogen. Spray them down with fish emulsion and see if they green up. If they do, start giving them light doses of nitrogen regularly. Clay soil can be very rich in just about everything... except nitrogen; your amendments weren't with anything that would boost that N level for any length of time, particularly if the chicken manure was old. Best of luck -- the plants should be fine once you can give them what they need. --Alison
...See More
Help, my 2 tomato plants are loosing leaves and have brown on stalks
Q
Comments (6)
Yeah, growing tomatoes is totally different here in Florida. Those plants are done for. The good news is.... you now have two tomato seasons. Depending on what region of Florida, you should have new plants ready to be planted now. June is late for any part of florida, the temps are way too hot by then. Also, you might not want to do two plants in that container. I'm fairly new to gardening, but I've had pretty decent results with tomatoes in Florida, thanks to the experts on here and local growers. Definitely check out the Florida extension website http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/m/
...See More
earthworm73
15 years ago
jwr6404, where in WA are you and you alreay planted your maters outside already?
jwr6404
15 years ago
Earthworm
I live in University Place,Wa between the Puget Sound and Tacoma.I have 21 plants outside in Walls of Water enclosures. The WOWs in the Garden are covered at night with Tunnel covers. The other Tomatos that are in large containes are in WOWs and inside fabricated and Plastic covered cages at night. I wish I knew how to post Photo's.
earthworm73
15 years ago
jwr, go to FAQ and there should be an instructions on posting photos. BTW I am in the Bellingham area.
anney
15 years ago
Did you harden them off before putting them outside?
danmato
15 years ago
on that side of the mountians he would prob. have to harden them off to take them inside!!! lol j/k
yep ,sounds like too much water to me too.
plantslayer
Original Author
15 years ago
Well my wife stopped by the garden (it's not at our house) today, and said that new leaves/branches seem to be growing and are green. So if the transplants are actually growing and not just sitting there doing nothing, can I assume that they have not been stunted or something? I'm going to have to check them out for myself before I can rest easy OC.
plantslayer
Original Author
15 years ago
So I saw for myself that the yellowed plants seem to be growing new dark green leaves. The older leaves and branches looked pretty bad, so I pruned a lot of those off. Just out of curiosity, how did your over-watered plants turn out, Jim?
jessicavanderhoff
15 years ago
Did you harden off before planting? Has it been bright and sunny? Could have been sunburn. My plants do seem to look less healthy for a while when adjusting to cold.
plantslayer
Original Author
15 years ago
It was probably a combination of the wet ground, transplant shock, cold weather and the like. There were a few days without much sunlight in there, as well. I _think_ they are growing again, so I am not too worries about the older yellow leaves; as long as there is a healthy growing tip, I am sure the plants will be OK in the long run.

In fact, there is a cluster of flowers on each of the indeterminates... assuming they can set, then I should achieve early tomatoes if not a bumper crop.
tn_veggie_gardner
15 years ago
remove the tent...they need sunlight, even through the clouds.
plantslayer
Original Author
15 years ago
I am afraid I need to keep it in place for the time being- the tent was a season extended and it allowed me to plant them out much earlier than they otherwise would have been able to go out (debateable, since they still suffered a bit). ALso, the garden isn't right outside my back door, so I can't go there back and forth to open/close the tent every day. So until the nights get to be well over 50* I think it needs to stay in place.

By the end of the summer I will know if I had any net benefits from using the tent and planting things out early, or not.

Newly planted out tomatoes have pale leaves?

Comments (13)

freemangreens

jwr6404

Related Discussions

earthworm73

jwr6404

earthworm73

anney

danmato

plantslayer
Original Author

plantslayer
Original Author

jessicavanderhoff

plantslayer
Original Author

tn_veggie_gardner

plantslayer
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Newly planted out tomatoes have pale leaves?

Comments (13)

Related Discussions

plantslayerOriginal Author

plantslayerOriginal Author

plantslayerOriginal Author

plantslayerOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

plantslayer
Original Author

plantslayer
Original Author

plantslayer
Original Author

plantslayer
Original Author