Severe leaf curl on new growth - potted plants only

mt_autry

7 years ago

I'm hoping someone on this forum my be able to solve a mystery for me.

This year, I have planted multiple types of heirloom and non-heirloom tomatoes to determine what grows best in my

garden space. I'm also experimenting with planting a few vareities in a pot with potting soil to compare potted to non-potted tomatoes.

The plants placed in the pot have severe inward curling and clubbing on the newest growth. This occurs only in the potted plants and nowhere else in the garden. There is no yellowing of the leaves. The bottom leaves, are large, green, flat, and healthy.

Does any any one have any idea to what might me causing this? Viral or fungal? Over watering? Too much nitrogen?

Ive attached some pictures. Thank you in advance for any ideas!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

Jean
7 years ago
Herbicide damage.

If none used anywhere in the vicinity, then possibly herbicide-carryover which could be any kind organic matter, even commercially packaged..

See http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/aminopyralid/

And do the bio-assay which is linked at the left menu.
PammyM
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I have one tomato plant that looks exactly the same as yours does. I live in a condo and remembered getting a notice weeks ago that the landscapers were going to be spraying the lawns for weed control, so for my plant, I think the damage was definitely from herbicide. The bottom half of the plant looked normal and the top half looked exactly like yours with severely curled/folded stunted leaves. After weeks of having hundreds of flowers and no new tomatoes setting and no new growth on the plant, I finally lopped off the top half of my Husky Cherry tomato plant, removing all of the severely deformed curled/folded leaves. Within a few days of chopping off the top half of the plant, that looks like it was affected herbicide, all of a sudden the plant started setting new tomatoes and I went from having 18 cherry tomatoes to 30. I don't see any new flowers yet, but I see a few new suckers growing. I'm guessing the plant is now able to put all of it's energy into setting fruit into wasting it on the damaged top half of the plant that wasn't doing anything. I'm anxious to see if the new branches will have normal leaves or if they'll be deformed. Pam
Related Discussions
Curled leaf on potted up seedlings?
Q
Comments (7)
Awesome news. I'm a first-timer and I was sure I'd royally borked something. One thing I did that I also worried about was, when I was separating the seedlings that were growing together in the same peat pellet, I completely immersed the pellet in a bowl of water while gently washing away enough peat to be able to pull the roots apart with minimal damage. In hindsight I worried that the complete immersion like that might've been unwise.
...See More
leaf curl on only one type
Q
Comments (5)
Can you post a picture? The other tomatoes you list are usually of the Regular Leaf form, and I am wondering if you are confusing the Potato Leaf form with leaf curl? If not, we need more info, so.... To be able to suggest what might be wrong with your plant, it would be helpful to know more about the environment it is in. So, here are the "usual" questions: Is the plant in the ground or in a container? If in a container, what growing medium are you using? How large is the container? Is it self-watering or do you manually water it? Is the container in full sun, part sun or shade? For both container plants and inground plants, it would be helpful to know these things as well: How often do you water? Have you checked the moisture of the growing medium or soil 3-5" below the surface? Is it dry, just right, or soggy? Are you feeding the plant? How often? What are the NPK values of any fertilizers you are using to feed it? What has the weather been like in your area? If the plant is in the ground: Have you used any amendments? Do you mulch? If so, with what and how much (how deep)? Are there any other plants near the problem plant? Do they show the same signs? The more information you can give us, the better the chances that someone can give you an accurate diagnosis. Betsy
...See More
severe tomato leaf curling - need advice
Q
Comments (8)
Hi Alex. I have one tomato plant that looks exactly the same as yours does. I live in a condo and remembered getting a notice weeks ago that the landscapers were going to be spraying the lawns for weed control, so for my plant, I think the damage was definitely from herbicide. The bottom half of the plant looked normal and the top half looked exactly like yours with severely curled/folded stunted leaves. After weeks of having hundreds of flowers and no new tomatoes setting and no new growth on the plant, I finally lopped off the top half of my Husky Cherry tomato plant, removing all of the severely deformed curled/folded leaves. Within a few days of chopping off the top half of the plant, that looks like it was affected herbicide, all of a sudden the plant started setting new tomatoes and I went from having 18 cherry tomatoes to 30. I don't see any new flowers yet, but I see a few new suckers growing. I'm guessing the plant is now able to put all of it's energy into setting fruit into wasting it on the damaged top half of the plant that wasn't doing anything. I'm anxious to see if the new branches will have normal leaves or if they'll be deformed. Pam
...See More
Zone 9b unhappy Yucca: leaf curl, no growth. Advice pls.
Q
Comments (21)
Ok good to know, and in future I should be better able to navigate the site, so I won't be making these mistakes again. I hope! Thanks for understanding. I noticed this morning that there are little marks on some of the leaves, it's a new development. There's very small but have come on quickly. They're brownish in colour and from what I can tell from looking around online so far, it's probably some type of fungal infection. I have no idea how to treat it, or if it needs treating. Being that in the UK our regulations on fungicides etc are different than the US, and I wouldn't know how to figure out which treatment would be right, or even if treating it would be the best option at the moment. I need to start digging around! I'm also wondering if maybe the top needs something to protect it's trunk, it's always been like this. It came from a bigger Yucca that was chopped up. I'm going to post the new photos on the other thread, and link to that thread here too, once I have. I hope that's alright with everyone. Gosh, this poor plant has seen it all on my watch! Two black thumbs I have. Update: Here is the link to the photos and update on condition of the Yucca, in case anyone is interested: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/4694976/zone-9b-unhappy-yucca-leaf-curl-no-growth-advice-pls#20153636
...See More

Related Stories

BLUE AND GRAY FOLIAGE 6 Stunning Silver-Leaf Plants

By Andrew Keys

Bring luster to your garden with these shining examples of silver plants for both sun and shade

Full Story

RED FOLIAGE Great Design Plant: Red-Leafed Mukdenia

By Annie Thornton

Creamy white blossoms give way to splashes of scarlet with this energetic, dramatic ground cover

Full Story

CONTAINER GARDENS Container Garden Basics: How and When to Water Potted Plants

By Kim Gamel

Confused about soil moisture, the best time to water and what watering device to use? This guide can help

Full Story

FLOWERS Great Design Plant: Dahlias

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Pick this flamboyant stunner for its amazing array of colors and faces, fast growth and sizes that can fill a pot or a whole garden

Full Story

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Green-Only Gardens Draw the Eye and Soothe the Spirit

By Frank Organ

Use plant and foliage variety to create a monochromatic landscape as visually pleasing as it is calming

Full Story

SUMMER GARDENING How to Grow Basil

By Marianne Lipanovich

Bright color, quick growth and endless uses for cooking make this summer annual a winner in the garden or a pot

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Grow a Beautiful Fall Garden in a Pot

By Kim Gamel

Welcome autumn with 7 gorgeous plants that thrive in containers and enliven your porch or patio throughout the cooler season

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Rhus Glabra

By Curtis Adams

Smooth sumac provides powerful jolts of fall color and persistent fruit clusters that add interest through the winter

Full Story

HOUSEPLANTS One Pot, One Big Shot of the Tropics

By creative jewish mom.com

Give your rooms exotic flair in a single stroke. Tall Kentia palm fits the tropical bill beautifully

Full Story

FALL GARDENING 6 Deer-Resistant Flowering Vines to Plant This Fall

By Brian Barth

Have a major deer problem? Here are some of the only vines that have a chance of not being eaten

Full Story

Severe leaf curl on new growth - potted plants only

Comments (2)

Jean

PammyM

Related Discussions

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US