Tomato leaves not doing well

graff · February 24, 2013

I had a tomato plant in an earth box last year, and eventually the leaves started to get mold and the plant eventually lost most of its leaves. I couldn't figure out what the problem was, but I figured the cold weather was part of the problem, though I'm in Florida, and it hadn't gotten terribly cold this year.

I got a new tomato plant and after a week, it looks to have a similar problem with its leaves. I have looked at lots of pictures online but I couldn't identify exactly what the problem is. Can anyone see what is happening based on the attached picture? I would be very appreciative of any help.

It's planted in soil that I mixed with manure a few weeks ago, and the soil looked decent when I planted the tomato. I watered the roots after planting, and watered a couple times this week. It gets sunlight for about 8 hours around this time of year.

thanks.

coolbythecoast · February 24, 2013

If you hadn't said you mixed in manure a few weeks ago, I would have said that the plant is a little short on nitrogen. Are the top leaves much darker than the lower ones? They tell me that tomatoes have the ability to shift nitrogen from the old leaves to the new, fastest growing ones, discharging the lower leaves. They also tell me that this is pretty normal, don't worry-be happy!

Sun City Linda · February 24, 2013

Have you sprayed the plant with anything? The damage primarily on the leaf tips can be the result of spraying followed by strong light. Actually, it looks burned. Any chance your manure was hot, as in not fully composted?

RayR · February 25, 2013

What's that white stuff on those lower leaves?
I'd pull that wood mulch way back from the stem of that plant, that can't be helping if you have mold problems.

dice · February 25, 2013

The white stuff looks like sunburn to me. It had not had enough
sun exposure (not hardened off enough) before you planted it.
Not fatal, you can just cut those leaves off and dispose of them.

With the leaf tips, it is hard to say. Could be fertilizer burn (too hot
of a manure, maybe, but it is more commonly seen with synthetic
fertilizers), or it could be verticillium wilt:
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/.../05-069f13.jpg

I do not know if verticillium is commonly found in your part
of the country. The usual remedy is pretty drastic: a 6 year
crop rotation schedule with crops that are not susceptible
to it. If that is what it is, you can try a soil drench with tablespoon
per gallon lime-sulfur (usually used as a foliar fungicide on roses,
fruit trees, etc). I have verticillium in the garden in places. I have
been trying other things (interplanting with onions and garlic,
balloon flower, amending with magnolia leaves, etc).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16964957

February 25, 2013	#5
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	The white stuff looks like sunburn to me. It had not had enough sun exposure (not hardened off enough) before you planted it. Not fatal, you can just cut those leaves off and dispose of them. With the leaf tips, it is hard to say. Could be fertilizer burn (too hot of a manure, maybe, but it is more commonly seen with synthetic fertilizers), or it could be verticillium wilt: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/.../05-069f13.jpg I do not know if verticillium is commonly found in your part of the country. The usual remedy is pretty drastic: a 6 year crop rotation schedule with crops that are not susceptible to it. If that is what it is, you can try a soil drench with tablespoon per gallon lime-sulfur (usually used as a foliar fungicide on roses, fruit trees, etc). I have verticillium in the garden in places. I have been trying other things (interplanting with onions and garlic, balloon flower, amending with magnolia leaves, etc). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16964957 __________________ -- alias

February 24, 2013	#2
coolbythecoast Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 39	If you hadn't said you mixed in manure a few weeks ago, I would have said that the plant is a little short on nitrogen. Are the top leaves much darker than the lower ones? They tell me that tomatoes have the ability to shift nitrogen from the old leaves to the new, fastest growing ones, discharging the lower leaves. They also tell me that this is pretty normal, don't worry-be happy!

February 24, 2013	#3
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	Have you sprayed the plant with anything? The damage primarily on the leaf tips can be the result of spraying followed by strong light. Actually, it looks burned. Any chance your manure was hot, as in not fully composted?

February 25, 2013	#4
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	What's that white stuff on those lower leaves? I'd pull that wood mulch way back from the stem of that plant, that can't be helping if you have mold problems.