Why are my tomato seedling leaves yellowing?
vivisgarden (7b)
7 years ago
The yellowing started at the tip of the seed leaves, but as you can see it's already past halfway on the leaf. I'm keeping the soil moist but it doesn't seem TOO wet? So far out of around 10 seedlings or so, this seems to be the only one but it's also the seedling with the most leaves. I sowed them about 3 1/2 weeks ago and I've attached a reference picture for size. I've read it could be a nutrient deficiency but I wasn't sure if seedlings this young needed extra nutrients?
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Comments (7)
LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
7 years agovivisgarden (7b)
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Tomato seedling leaves turning yellow
Comments (1)I have not been over watering...planted them up in 3 inch peat pots. I bottom water them until the peat pot is wet and then don't water them again until the soil and pot is bone dry and some of the seedlings start to wilt just a little. I know you don't think you are over watering but you are or the leaves wouldn't be yellowing. And the peat pots are contributing to the problem which is why many of us won't use them - ever. The peat pots wick water up too quickly and then wick it away from the soil and the plant roots thus forcing you to water more frequently. When you water until the pot is wet it is too much water for the roots and the leaves yellow. Then the pot dries quickly and begins to pull the water out of the soil drying it out and making you think you need to water again. If you cannot get rid of the peat pots and move the plants into plastic cups which is the recommended solution, then you will have to water them from the top using a small watering can so that only the soil itself is watered until it is only slightly moist. Make sure the pot gets little of it. The check the deeper soil moisture level, not the pot condition, before watering again. Going from real wet to bone dry should be avoided at all costs. You want a consistent LOW level of moisture in the soil. Hope this helps. Dave PS: lots of discussions about the many problems with peat pots here you might want to read for future reference. And do be sure to strip it all off the plants before transplanting them....See MoreYellowing tomato seedling leaves__:)(
Comments (20)Okay, glad you posted the pictures Click for Pics because that IS NOT Nitrogen deficiency. The yellowing shown in your pictures is intervenal chlorosis, yellowing beginning at the leaf margins and progressing towards midribs - leaving a lacy yellow pattern between the remaining green ribs, and is the result of micronutrient deficiency. Maybe iron, maybe magnesium. Those would be my first two guesses as they are the first to show up because soilless growing media do not contain them in sufficient quantity for plant health. Either way, use the Ironite or Ferti-Lome liquid iron suppliment. Both have complete micronutrients. Until you purchase one or the other, give your plants a dose of Epsom salts, one tablespoon per gallon. Yes, one full tablespoon per gallon as some of your plants are getting to an advanced stage of chlorosis. Epsom salts = magnesium sulfate. I think it will help. Cannot possibly hurt. You may already have sufficient nitrogen, phosphorus and potasium (NPK) in the soilless potting mix because you already dosed it with Miracle Gro ... evidenced by some of the other seedlings being plenty green, okay? It's just sitting there available to the yellowing plants but they need a vitamin pill to assist their ability to take up the NPK. Think of it that way. All plants are not created equal. It will take a day or three for the little ones to green back up. But they will. Well except for the leaves where they've gotting tan, brown and crusty. Those are gone. You can trim off the crispy parts. But the leaves that are yellow and green lacy pattern, those will green back up....See Morediagnosis help: heirloom tomato seedlings have yellowing leaves
Comments (3)Hi doubleji, As it happens, I also am growing tomatos and peppers in Jakarta. As this appears to be a rare past time in this town, I thought it would be good for us to compare notes from time to time. I'm in Menteng and have some fruit developing on a smaller cherry variety called something like Masohkta. I have some larger plants which are growing very vigorously (about four foot tall now - planted about 6 weeks ago) and they are flowering but no sign of fruiting yet. I mention this because I harbour a secret concern that Jakarta is probably too hot for most tomatos and I keep expecting the flowers to drop without fruiting. Do you happen to know if anyone's grown many tomatos in Jakarta successfully before? I've never actually seen ANYONE growing tomatos in Indonesia though obviously that happens in the hills somewhere cos that's where those tasteless examples in the supermarket come from. I haven't planted any heirlooms yet - though i now have seeds for a few and have a membership with a seed savers club in Australia. I am a new gardener so I only discovered the whole heirloom thing after planting my garden unfortunately. Do you happen to know of any heirloom varieties which are suited to tropical climates? Or indeed, which vegetables, apart from eggplant, corn and peppers, which would suit? I have planted rocket (arugula) too and silverbeet and both are growing well (had rocket salad as part of a french cheese tasting night last night) but I expect all leaves have to be harvested young so they don't get too peppery in this heat. Anyway, touch base if you'd like to. cheers...See MoreWhy are the leaves on my Clematis turning yellow?
Comments (0)If you are sure that your clematis is getting enough water, then this sounds like a classic case of magnesium deficiency. Some tomato fertilizers contain magnesium since tomatoes also need this trace element. If you cannot find a tomato fertilizer containing magnesium, which in general can also be an excellent choice for fertilizing clematis, an epsom salt solution is an alternative magnesium supplement. While it is impossible to make a general 'prescription' that will fit all cases because it is impossible to diagnose the exact deficiency without a full soil test, you can try the following recommendation. Mix one teaspoon of epsom salt to one gallon of water. The mix can be applied in quart amounts at the base of the plant over a period of time until the yellow goes away. You should see fast results. Keep any left over solution for future applications, if necessary. Above all, use your own judgement on how the plant responds....See More
digdirt2
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agovivisgarden (7b)
7 years agodigdirt2
7 years agovivisgarden (7b)
7 years ago
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LoneJack Zn 6a, KC