My tomatoes are sick!

Itoero · May 31, 2013

There is something wrong.
The flowers and fruits grow fine but the leaves of all my tomatoes look terrible.
The only thing that changed, is the weather.
It became a bit warmer in the last days.
My first idea is to much fertilizer...but it is 5 days ago since i used a fertilizer.

travis · May 31, 2013

Looks like stress related leaf curl and roll.

Have you grown tomato vines in the same glass house before? If so, is there something different about this year? Hotter, more humid, soil more dry, more intense sunlight, etc.?

Since there is no discoloration of the leaves, I tend to think stress rather than disease unless you've introduced a herbicide or herbicide residue, whether intentionally or inadvertently (such as carry-over via manure, compost, etc.).

You might also check under the rolled and curled leaves for insects or larvae.

Heritage · May 31, 2013

I agree with Travis' diagnosis - also, it looks like your plants might have edema. If so, you will see a calloused-like rough growth, mostly along the mid-veins, on the underside of the affected leaves. Edema is caused when roots supply more water than the leaves can transpire, and the cell walls burst. It (the new growth) usually cures itself when the conditions improve. (less water, less humidity, etc).

Steve

Itoero · June 2, 2013

The plants in containers have a lot more damage then the ones in open ground.
Maybe it has got something to do with the fertilizer I use.
The fertilizer contains vinasse, a byproduct of the sugar industry.
I read that sugar can undermine bacterial life in the soil...can that be the cause?

dice · June 3, 2013

Physiological leaf roll: http://www.umanitoba.ca/afs/hort_inq...leaf_roll.html

Plant stresses: http://www.plantstress.com/Articles/index.asp

May 31, 2013	#1
Itoero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Belgium Posts: 186	My tomatoes are sick! There is something wrong. The flowers and fruits grow fine but the leaves of all my tomatoes look terrible. The only thing that changed, is the weather. It became a bit warmer in the last days. My first idea is to much fertilizer...but it is 5 days ago since i used a fertilizer. Last edited by Itoero; May 31, 2013 at 06:10 AM.

May 31, 2013	#2
travis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,984	Looks like stress related leaf curl and roll. Have you grown tomato vines in the same glass house before? If so, is there something different about this year? Hotter, more humid, soil more dry, more intense sunlight, etc.? Since there is no discoloration of the leaves, I tend to think stress rather than disease unless you've introduced a herbicide or herbicide residue, whether intentionally or inadvertently (such as carry-over via manure, compost, etc.). You might also check under the rolled and curled leaves for insects or larvae. Last edited by travis; May 31, 2013 at 02:34 PM.

June 3, 2013	#5
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	Physiological leaf roll: http://www.umanitoba.ca/afs/hort_inq...leaf_roll.html Plant stresses: http://www.plantstress.com/Articles/index.asp __________________ -- alias

May 31, 2013	#3
Heritage Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,255	I agree with Travis' diagnosis - also, it looks like your plants might have edema. If so, you will see a calloused-like rough growth, mostly along the mid-veins, on the underside of the affected leaves. Edema is caused when roots supply more water than the leaves can transpire, and the cell walls burst. It (the new growth) usually cures itself when the conditions improve. (less water, less humidity, etc). Steve

June 2, 2013	#4
Itoero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Belgium Posts: 186	The plants in containers have a lot more damage then the ones in open ground. Maybe it has got something to do with the fertilizer I use. The fertilizer contains vinasse, a byproduct of the sugar industry. I read that sugar can undermine bacterial life in the soil...can that be the cause?