What is causing leaf curl in otherwise healthy plant?

[jbond007]

My Blue Berries Cherry (1 of 3) is having the leaves curl. Am I over watering???

[Gardenboy]

Did you have any rainy weather and cool temps? It's called physiological leaf curl. Did you just plant them as seedlings outside? You need to water more on a regular basis. The leaf curl will not harm the plant or it's development. The leaves are trying to conserve energy and will be back to normal in a few days once it reaches it's water stability. Put the tomato plants on a regular water cycle. I water early in the morning so the plants can dry out. I never water after sunset. U can't help it if it rains. You will see a difference when U get on a watering cycle.

[jbond007]

Good info. They were potted within the last week. I really soaked them. It's also probably the most continuous time they've had in the sun.

[Gardenboy]

No problem. It's a common reaction when you transplant with some varieties. Just put them on a more "regular" water cycle. I grow in 20 gallon containers and I water 1/2 gallon of water every other day...unless it rains, for each tomato..water around the plant. Don't need to water the leaves.

[jbond007]

Got it. Thanks!

[wormgirl]

With all due respect, I am not sure this watering schedule applies to us here in WA. jbond, if you just potted them I seriously doubt it's from a lack of water. I have been using the wooden skewer trick to judge the dampness of the potting mix and I haven't needed to water any of mine yet. I prefer to water mine as needed rather than some arbitrary schedule.

I have seen some curl on some of my plants and have been assuming it's more due to the cool?

Would love to see more opinions on this.

[KarenO]

Any stress can cause physiologic leaf curl. drought, cold, transplant. It will correct itself in time with good normal care, watering, warmth, sunlight etc. It is not harmful and it is not a disease. Don't overcompensate and drown them because overwatering can cause it too
KarenO

[jbond007]

Originally Posted by KarenO

Any stress can cause physiologic leaf curl. drought, cold, transplant. It will correct itself in time with good normal care, watering, warmth, sunlight etc. It is not harmful and it is not a disease. Don't overcompensate and drown them because overwatering can cause it too
KarenO

I haven't watered them more (seemed damp), but I did choose to bring them into the garage at night to see if the cool has shocked them and maybe this one needs a little more warmth. Plus it is supposed to rain tonight. Good to hear it's unanimously NOT a disease. First time with the Blue berries.

[Al@NC]

I've had the leaf curl this year as well and so I started googling "PNW leaf curl" and apparently it's pretty common here due to the temps, etc...

http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublicatio...616/PNW616.pdf

This first link says that you should do the following to try and minimize the leaf curl:

• planting determinate★cultivars;
• planting in well-drained soils and maintaining
uniform, adequate soil moisture★(~1 inch
per week during the growing season★depending
on the area of production);
• being careful not to over-fertilize--especially
with nitrogen fertilizers--and providing appropriate
phosphorus fertilizer (refer to your
soil test results for specific fertilizer recommendations);
• avoiding severe pruning; and
• maintaining temperatures below 95°F★by★
using shading or evaporative cooling.

It doesn't have to be disease related:

according to The Pacific Northwest Vegetable Extension Group… “Plant growth, fruit yield, and fruit quality are not believed to be affected by physiological leaf roll”.

http://lonsorganicgarden.com/tomato-leaf-curl/

[jbond007]

Thanks Al@NC! That was all good info. I guess I'll just continue to monitor the plant. All my others are doing very well as they all got potted or planted last week. I even have pea sized tomatoes now coming on my Black Cherry!

[Worth1]

It may have already been stated but I would like to add something.
When transplanting always make sure toe root ball is nice and wet or moist and then water again when place in the soil.
Not doing so sometimes will make it very difficult to get it wet once in the ground.

Worth

[wormgirl]

Thanks Karen, Al, and Worth for more input! jbond, congrats on your fruit set!

[b54red]

I have a couple of Royal Hillbilly plants that are all suffering from leaf curl. I used to worry about it but it just seems to be something that happens from time to time with some varieties much worse than others.

Bill

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by b54red

I have a couple of Royal Hillbilly plants that are all suffering from leaf curl. I used to worry about it but it just seems to be something that happens from time to time with some varieties much worse than others.

Bill

Royal Hillbilly sounds like an oxymoron.

Worth

[Tim Lazer]

I'm not sure why my messages won't go through-- help please!