Spotty Neon Colored Leaves

Kenyadenola · July 12, 2006

Hello Everyone:

I am new to this site, I usually post on GW, but found this one yesterday. I have also posted this onn GW, but thought I would post it here as well.

Below are pictures of some of my tomatoes that are having issues. All of my plants have some of these issues to some degree, most starting to have pale green leaves, while the lower leaves on others are starting to have the mottled look. The funny thing is that the plants with the mottled leaves, have the darkest leaves, while the newer plants have a pale green (almost flourescent green, as opposed to the deep dark green I am used to) almost yellowish tint to them.

I was thinking that the the mottled leaves could be signs of a magnesium deficiency, especially since the spots are starting to turn yellow and the vein is staying green, but then I discovered that it could be a lack of iron as well. I don't know. The plants that aren't deeply green I thought could need some nitrogen, but I don't want to over do it and have that not be the problem. They all seem to be growing well, but I would like to correct whatever the problem may be before I lose my plants.

I have invested a lot of time into my plants and I want them to be okay. My husband thinks I've flipped my wig when it comes to my tomatoes, I'm almost as attached to them as I am my children!!

By the way, I grow them organically, so if there any solutions I would like them to be organic or at least as close to organic as possible.

When I planted them, I amended my clay soil with chicken manure, compost and a blend of greensand, kelpmeal and rock phosphate. I have feed them with a fish/seaweed emulsion and monty's joy juice (once with the 4-16-15, and once with 2-15-15). They are in various stages of growth, a few are almost 6 feet and the rest are between 3 & 4 1/2 feet.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

http://s93.photobucket.com/albums/l7...to%20Problems/

Thank you,
Kenya

landarc · July 12, 2006

This does look like chlorosis to me, at first blush. If it is chlorosis, the actual determination of cause could be difficult. Are you foliar feeding them, or root feeding them. Typically, chlorosis is a root nutrient uptake issue and foliar feeding will make a temporary difference and provide a clue to the real problem.

The fact that the newer leaves are pale green, while more establsihed plants are getting the yellow interveinal tissue further suggests, to me, chlorosis.

It is a little unusual for California plants in adobe clay to have chlorosis under good conditions as our soil skews to the acidic, however, it does happen.

landarc · July 12, 2006

The thing we see out here the most as a cuase of chlorosis is an excess of moisture in clay soil. The clay soil holds onto the moisture, as a result of poor drainage, and the roots cannot uptake the nutrients.

Kenyadenola · July 12, 2006

Thank you. My biggest mistake last year was watering to much, so I thought I had backed off on that and I bought a moisture meter. I only water when it says that it's close to being dry, but I am starting to realize that the readings can be a bit skewed.

My plants are heavily mulched and could probably go two weeks or more without water, so that is what I am going to do.

When I do feed them, it was a combination of foliar and root drench. Should I give them a foliar feeding in the meantime to try and give them the nutrients while I wait for the soil to dry out? Most of my plants are putting out tomatoes(still green though), so at least they are producing.

Kenya

landarc · July 12, 2006

If I am right about the chlorosis, yes, I would do foliar feeding to give the plants a boost

July 12, 2006	#1
Kenyadenola Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 35	Spotty Neon Colored Leaves Hello Everyone: I am new to this site, I usually post on GW, but found this one yesterday. I have also posted this onn GW, but thought I would post it here as well. Below are pictures of some of my tomatoes that are having issues. All of my plants have some of these issues to some degree, most starting to have pale green leaves, while the lower leaves on others are starting to have the mottled look. The funny thing is that the plants with the mottled leaves, have the darkest leaves, while the newer plants have a pale green (almost flourescent green, as opposed to the deep dark green I am used to) almost yellowish tint to them. I was thinking that the the mottled leaves could be signs of a magnesium deficiency, especially since the spots are starting to turn yellow and the vein is staying green, but then I discovered that it could be a lack of iron as well. I don't know. The plants that aren't deeply green I thought could need some nitrogen, but I don't want to over do it and have that not be the problem. They all seem to be growing well, but I would like to correct whatever the problem may be before I lose my plants. I have invested a lot of time into my plants and I want them to be okay. My husband thinks I've flipped my wig when it comes to my tomatoes, I'm almost as attached to them as I am my children!! By the way, I grow them organically, so if there any solutions I would like them to be organic or at least as close to organic as possible. When I planted them, I amended my clay soil with chicken manure, compost and a blend of greensand, kelpmeal and rock phosphate. I have feed them with a fish/seaweed emulsion and monty's joy juice (once with the 4-16-15, and once with 2-15-15). They are in various stages of growth, a few are almost 6 feet and the rest are between 3 & 4 1/2 feet. Any help would be greatly appreciated. http://s93.photobucket.com/albums/l7...to%20Problems/ Thank you, Kenya

July 12, 2006	#2
landarc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Left Coasty Posts: 964	This does look like chlorosis to me, at first blush. If it is chlorosis, the actual determination of cause could be difficult. Are you foliar feeding them, or root feeding them. Typically, chlorosis is a root nutrient uptake issue and foliar feeding will make a temporary difference and provide a clue to the real problem. The fact that the newer leaves are pale green, while more establsihed plants are getting the yellow interveinal tissue further suggests, to me, chlorosis. It is a little unusual for California plants in adobe clay to have chlorosis under good conditions as our soil skews to the acidic, however, it does happen. __________________ Lets see...$10 for Worth and $5 for Fusion, man. Tomatoes are expensive! Bob

July 12, 2006	#3
landarc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Left Coasty Posts: 964	The thing we see out here the most as a cuase of chlorosis is an excess of moisture in clay soil. The clay soil holds onto the moisture, as a result of poor drainage, and the roots cannot uptake the nutrients. __________________ Lets see...$10 for Worth and $5 for Fusion, man. Tomatoes are expensive! Bob

July 12, 2006	#5
landarc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Left Coasty Posts: 964	If I am right about the chlorosis, yes, I would do foliar feeding to give the plants a boost __________________ Lets see...$10 for Worth and $5 for Fusion, man. Tomatoes are expensive! Bob