Why do tomato leaves curl up? Why Do Tomato Leaves Curl? What to do

Tomatoes are one of the most capricious types of vegetables. And if you do at least something wrong in growing tomatoes, then they will immediately signal this. The most common whim is twisted leaves.

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to establish why plants behave this way. But such behavior, in turn, can lead to the fact that the fruits of the plant become unusable. Therefore, today we will tell you why the leaves of tomatoes curl and what needs to be done to prevent this from happening.

How to properly feed tomatoes?

Due to the fact that many gardeners abuse the infusion of herbs, nitrogen and organic fertilizers, in the soil there is a lack of potassium, phosphorus and zinc. This may be the reason why the leaves of the tomato are curled. To ensure a balanced diet, it is necessary to fertilize the soil according to the following scheme:

fertilizer solute at the rate of 2 tbsp. spoons per 10 liters of water; potassium monophosphate 1 teaspoon per 10 liters of water.

Also, do not fertilize tomatoes with manure or slurry: due to the release of ammonia, the leaves can get burned.

How to properly water tomatoes?

Overwatering can be another reason why tomato leaves curl. Curl from excess water starts from the lower leaves and gradually spreads to the tops of the plant.

The leaf blades curl in a funnel-shaped fashion towards the upper surface along the central vein. The leaves become dense, hard to the touch and crumble easily. To prevent this from happening, tomatoes need to be watered correctly:

water the tomatoes once a week, using 3-5 liters of water per bush. During the fruiting period - 2 times a week, using the same amount of water; use for watering rain water- due to the presence of carbonic acid in it, it has a mild effect. Water should be warm - 24-26 ° C; in hot weather, transfer watering to the evening - so the water is better absorbed and absorbed by the roots; water the tomatoes under the root - such watering allows you to moisten the soil, and the air humidity will not change; apply soil mulching - this will help maintain optimal humidity.

high temperature stress

Another reason why tomato leaves curl is the wrong temperature regime. High temperature - 35°C and above - will become dangerous factor, which can lead to twisting of the leaves of the tomato and the death of the plant. To avoid this, in hot weather it is necessary:

strengthen ventilation and drafts, shade plants with lutrasil; treat tomato leaves with urea - 1.5 tbsp. spoons per 10 liters of water, and after 1-2 days with raspberry-colored potassium permanganate.

A few days after such procedures, the tops should straighten.

bacterial infection

Viral diseases affect the stems and leaves, the fruits turn black and rot. Whatever the infections, they are all the reason why the leaves of tomatoes curl. To avoid diseases, it is necessary to properly fertilize and water the tomatoes, to ensure the necessary temperature conditions.

Proper dressing of seeds before sowing will also give positive results. If you collect the seeds yourself, then choose only healthy plants. If the tomatoes are still sick, then buy fungicidal preparations in specialized stores. They will not only protect the plants, but will also nourish and feed them.

Why do tomato leaves wither?

The reason why the leaves of tomatoes wither is Fusarium wilt. AT open ground the disease spreads to tomatoes in the southern regions, and in greenhouses - everywhere. The first signs, in addition to wilting, is also the yellowing of the leaves.

Then whole shoots wither, and then all plants. Fusarium spreads especially quickly when high humidity soil and excess nitrogen fertilizers. The disease itself is transmitted by transplanting seedlings, watering and loosening the soil. Fusarium is also the reason why tomatoes wither. To avoid Fusarium wilt, you must:

plant tomatoes where there were no diseased fruits; destroy plant debris; disinfect the soil in the greenhouse with a solution blue vitriol: 60-80 g per 10 liters of water. Hill up tomatoes to a height of 15 cm; treat tomatoes with fungicidal preparations.

Why do tomato leaves dry?

Phytophthora is the reason why the leaves of tomatoes dry. Phytophthora occurs due to frequent watering or incorrect temperature in the greenhouse.

In addition to leaves, phytophthora also affects the fruit itself and in the shortest possible time is able to destroy the entire crop. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to carry out prevention. It must be carried out in dry and calm weather.

If the summer is saturated with rains, then chemical treatment should be carried out as often as possible. But only when the tomatoes are still immature, ripe fruits cannot be processed.

Carry out top dressing, which strengthens the immunity of plants, because the stronger it is, the more resistant the tomatoes will be to late blight. To combat late blight, you can use a tincture based on ash and various means with the addition of copper. By taking the necessary preventive measures, you will no longer wonder why the tomatoes dry out. And your harvest will be tasty and healthy!

Virus diseases of tomatoes

Viral diseases of plants often resemble physiological disorders in their outward appearance. In both cases, there is a change in the color of the leaves, their twisting and folding. The leaf curl virus (AFL) is caused by two viruses K and L:

virus K (mosaic leaf curl) appears as a slight spotting and curling of the upper young leaves with undulations at the edges. can hit and root system without any symptoms. The virus is transmitted through seeds and contaminated soil; virus L. Most common in Europe. It is imported to us mainly with Dutch seeds that have not been treated with antiviral drugs. In the first year of planting such seeds, the virus manifests itself exactly like the K virus. And in next year the lower leaves are affected: they are twisted into a shuttle, and then into a tube. Further, the upper leaves are affected and as a result, all lose their elasticity. The virus is not transmitted by contact from a diseased plant to a healthy one.

Leafroll virus is an insidious disease because it cannot be cured. The only way out of this situation is prevention, which consists in processing the planting material: tomato seeds are treated with 20% hydrochloric acid for 30 minutes, and then washed with running water.

Impact of adverse weather conditions

The leaves of tomatoes also curl due to reasons such as sudden changes in day and night temperatures, especially during high temperatures during the day and high humidity at night. During such unfavorable weather conditions for tomatoes, they are sprayed with Epin, which has growth-stimulating activity and belongs to the class of natural plant hormones.

As a stress adaptogen, Epin helps strengthen the immune system of tomatoes, making them more resistant to diseases and leaf curl. If tomatoes are grown in a greenhouse, then curling the leaves inward means an excess of moisture, and curling up means a lack of it. Leaf curl can also appear with an excess amount nitrogenous substances in the soil. Viral diseases are often characterized by clearing along the veins, which gives the plant a special reticulate appearance.

For disorders mineral nutrition enlightenment often occurs between the veins. By external signs, it is not always possible to distinguish a viral pathology from a lack of nutrients important for the plant in the soil. If leaf curl is not caused by viruses, then the tomatoes do not die, but only lose their appearance and bear less fruit.

Disease resistant tomato varieties

In order to avoid various diseases and to get the desired result, you should plant varieties of tomatoes that are resistant to diseases and adverse weather conditions. These are varieties such as: - Blitz. Grown in open ground and in greenhouses.

Compact shrub with fruits weighing 80-90 g. Resistant to tobacco mosaic virus, fusarium and late blight; - Charisma F1. Grown in greenhouses. High-yielding with fruits of about 170 g. Resistant to cold weather, tobacco mosaic virus, Fusarium and Cladosporiosis; - Virtuoso F1.

Easily tolerates humidity and sudden changes in temperature, resistant to phytophthora. The fruits are large, do not crack, weighing 160 g. Tomatoes of this variety are grown in greenhouses; - Bohemia F1. Low-growing hybrid, which is grown in greenhouses and in the open field.

Fruits reach 140 g. Resistant to major diseases; - Opera F1. Grown in greenhouses. The plant is 1.5 m high and bears an average of 100 g. Resistant to many diseases; - Vologda F1.

Grown in greenhouses. Carpal with round smooth fruits weighing about 100 g. Resistant to tobacco mosaic, cladosporiosis and fusarium; - Ural F1. high yielding variety for greenhouses. Tomatoes are cold-resistant and resistant to fusarium, cladosporiosis, tobacco mosaic.

The fruits are large, weighing about 350 g; - Spartak F1. The bush is tall with large ribbed fruits weighing about 200 g. Resistant to fusarium, cladosporiosis and tobacco mosaic. Diseases and viruses can be found in acquired seedlings, therefore experienced gardeners grow seedlings themselves from seeds treated with an antiviral agent.

Diseases and viruses are also killed in the planting soil by watering it with boiling water. Such activities will protect against diseases and the leaf curl virus. Do not worry if the top has twisted leaves in the morning, but in the afternoon they straighten out if the flowers are bright yellow color, two flowers bloom at once in a brush, if the fruits are larger at the base of the brush, and the brushes are located at an obtuse angle to the stem.

Why do the tops of tomatoes curl in the greenhouse?

With your help, I managed to cope with the acidity of the soil. The tomatoes are doing well. Blossom, powerful, leaves are dark green.

But in the middle row, opposite the doors, the tops of the tall tomatoes, as it were, “curled up”, twisted into a “cam”. I read literature. Explanations are different. Basically, I fill it with too much water.

This is not, because I rake the soil, it's dry. There may be insufficient watering. middle row practically blown and the earth dries faster than the side beds. Plants are tall, powerful, bloom. I think they need good watering.

Not 2 times a week, as they say in various reference books. With this heat in polycarbonate greenhouse the earth dries very quickly. Maybe I'm wrong. Tell me what to do.

Previously, when growing tomatoes in makeshift greenhouses there were no such problems. Sincerely, Valentina. Hello Valentine! Many summer residents face this problem.

Curly tomato leaves can different reasons. You indicated one of them correctly - insufficient watering during the heat period. A plant that lacks moisture will curl its leaves.

Thus, the tomato manages to reduce the evaporation of moisture by reducing the surface area of the leaf plate. At the same time, the lower leaves, illuminated less by the rays of the sun and better ventilated, remain normal. Important!

Choose the watering mode, focusing on the appearance of the plants. But remember that excess moisture provokes the occurrence of fungal diseases.

Too much nitrogen in the soil

If there is an excess amount of nitrogen fertilizers in the soil, the plant begins to fatten. At the same time, the plants have powerful stems, dark green leaves and curly tops. The plant directs all its strength to the growth of green mass.

Alas, there will not be a large harvest of fruits if measures are not taken. It is necessary to balance the amount of fertilizers in the soil by fertilizing with potassium, which is contained in wood ash. Dilute a glass of ash in a bucket of water and spill the tomatoes. Spraying the leaves with a solution prepared from one teaspoon of potassium sulfate and a liter of water also helps.

Aphid tricks

Small black aphids can also cause twisting of the leaves, which first settles in the axils of the leaves, and then moves to the stem and petioles of the leaves. Aphids, when sucking juices, introduce a specific substance into the tissues of the plant, which deforms the stem and twists the leaves. Insects hidden in the folds of leaves are difficult to destroy with insecticides. Important! When spraying, try to moisten all the sinuses and folds of the leaves. A diseased plant under the onslaught of aphids looks just like you describe

curl virus

This is perhaps the most unpleasant reason because viral diseases of tomatoes are not treated. Plants become infected through insects and cutting tools. Sick tomatoes are best removed immediately so as not to infect other plants.

Stepchildren break out manually, without using a pruner.

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Why Tomato Leaves Curl: Tomatoes Curl

Many gardeners are concerned about the question of why do tomatoes curl their leaves? There are many reasons that we will consider today. Why do tomato leaves curl?

Basically - too much organic matter, herbal infusions, nitrogen fertilizers with a lack of phosphorus, zinc and potassium. Nutrition needs to be balanced complex fertilizers(we dissolve 2 tablespoons per 10 liters of water or potassium monophosphate 1 teaspoon per 10 liters of water).

Decayed manure or slurry will not be enough, besides all this, because the released ammonia can damage tomato leaves, namely, cause them to burn or superficial necrotic damage to the fruit. Excessive pinching or pinching, excessive watering causes non-infectious twisting of tomato leaves. Mostly in the second half of the growing season, it appears.

Twisting begins with the lower leaves, and they gradually spread along the tops of the plant. Funnel-shaped to the upper surface along the central vein, the leaf blades will curl. Tomato leaves become hard, dense and crumble well.

With strong twisting, the flowers usually fall off. Causes of leaf curl in tomatoes

It often happens that we try very hard to please our tomatoes and we water them, water them, water them, but it turns out that it is better to water a lot, a lot, rarely, rarely. Try to put a hose between the tomato bushes, and let the water feed the tomatoes little by little.

It is possible that a good owner spares no fertilizer to get good harvest. But swirling tomatoes (leaves) often signal that you have overfed the bush. You need to balance the diet, try universal remedies.

Perhaps you planted tomatoes in a greenhouse - then they can be very hot. Take action. Provide air access, and the possibility of evaporation of excess moisture.

If you planted tomatoes in the ground, and the thermometer shows 32-35 and above - do not waste time looking for reasons for the lack of fertilizers - the tomatoes are just hot. We need to find ways to keep the sun out.

Try to water the tomatoes in the evening, then they will accumulate more moisture, and it will be easier for them to deal with drought. They also don't like tomatoes. cold water, and the warmed earth provides heating of water on the way to the rhizome of the tomato. Based on my experience, I can confidently say that the literature will not give you a direct answer to the question: why do tomatoes spin, since the reasons have not yet been found.

Why do tomato leaves curl up? At a temperature of 35 ° and also curling of the tops of the tomato is observed, because the tomato will be under high temperature stress.

In hot weather, it is necessary to increase ventilation, through the room, moisten the air, shade with lutrasil. Stress can be relieved in this way: treat the tomatoes on the leaves with urea (1.5 tablespoons per 10 liters of water), after 2 days - potassium permanganate rosemary color, also on the leaves.

Then after a few days, usually after 3 days, the tops straighten out. It seems to you that the plants are provided proper nutrition, temperature, regime, but the leaves are curled, perhaps the reasons are hidden in a bacterial infection that is transmitted with seeds. This disease is not treated, you can only stop the development of the systemic drug avixil.

Before sowing, do not forget to treat the seeds correctly. Gardeners often begin to refer to diseases, but twisted tomato leaves, as a rule, are some kind of mistake in caring for a bush. In other words, the plant survived the stress and shows us its discontent.

But you can easily find this by unfolding the sheet - if everything is clean, and there is no unfamiliar creature there - let's create comfortable conditions for the tomatoes. But, if you still notice the caterpillar, carefully inspect the bushes and remove the pest.

Varietal feature

There are quite a lot of varieties of tomatoes, especially tall (indeterminate), with thin stems and leaves, strongly cut and hanging or slightly twisting downwards. This is not a disease - you just need to know that such popular varieties as Fatima, Japanese Crab, Oxheart, Honey Drop, and a good half of cherry tomatoes have such a feature. When planting seedlings, pay attention to the condition of the leaves - if they are equally thin and slightly wrapped in all the bushes - you should not worry about why the leaves are curled.

high air temperature

Leaf curl in tomatoes is often observed in hot summer weather, especially when dry winds blow. Thus, the plant tries to reduce the area of evaporation of such valuable moisture.

Usually in the evening, at dusk, the leaf unfolds and returns to its normal shape in order to receive more dew at night and restore balance. There is only one way to help the plant - to shade.

For this purpose, both in open beds and in a greenhouse, white spunbond or lutrasil, thrown over plants at noon, is excellent. But we categorically do not recommend watering tomatoes by sprinkling.

If you do it in the sun - from water drops that work like miniature lenses, the leaf gets burned, and if you refresh it in the morning or evening - this is a direct path to late blight. We also recommend that you mulch the soil in the beds and in the greenhouse. 8-10 cm of cut grass, forest floor will significantly cool the roots in the very heat and the plant will be much more comfortable.

lack of moisture

This is the most common reason why tomato leaves curl. Many vegetable growers either do not pay attention to watering at all, hoping for rain, or they do it incorrectly - they water often, but in small portions.

But only the top layer of soil is wetted this way - 3-5 cm, and the roots are mostly located deeper, and the tomato suffers from a lack of moisture. Proper watering is enough to do once every 2-3 days on uncovered beds and once every 5-7 days on mulched ones, but at the same time, a bucket of water must be poured onto a fruit-bearing bush. This should not be done at the same time, but divided into several portions so that the water does not spread around the sides, but all gets to the roots.

Too much moisture

An overabundance, like a lack, can be the reason why the leaves of tomatoes curl, but only their edges are wrapped up. During heavy rains in clay soils the water slowly sinks to the depth, and the roots of tomatoes literally suffocate from lack of air.

You can avoid this problem even during the transplanting period by filling the hole with loose soil. And during the growing season, make small grooves from the bushes to the side to divert water from the roots.

Pests: aphids, whiteflies, red spider mites

These garden pests rarely, but still, affect tomatoes, especially when the beds are large, as well as in a greenhouse. They settle on the underside of the leaves and actively suck out the juices, as a result of which the leaves curl inward, turn yellow, necrotic spots and nodules appear. Finding pests, it is urgent to save the plant.

If there are few insects, try folk methods- infusion of ashes, celandine, onion peel.

If it doesn’t help, one of the modern drugs, for example, Bankol, Akarin, Karbofos (Fufpnon), Aktellik. Systemic preparations such as Aktara, Tanrek, Biotlin cannot be used for plants where tomatoes have already started, since toxic substances can accumulate in fruits for 2-4 weeks.

Nutrient deficiency

This happens often if, for some reason, the bushes are not fed at least once every two weeks. Especially often this happens in greenhouses, where the air is very warm, but the soil is not. The plant does not have the ability to accumulate trace elements in sufficient quantities. At the same time, the twisting of the leaves in tomatoes is accompanied by a change in color, and the central vein becomes rough and convex:

with a lack of phosphorus, they become red-violet, especially on the underside and veins, and top part as if turning gray; with a lack of zinc, the leaf bends down, the tops of the shoots also curl and become rough and brittle; twisting of young leaves and their lightening indicates a lack of boron; crushing of shoots, wrapping the leaves into a tube is a sign of a deficiency of copper and sulfur; with a lack of calcium, the edges of the leaves twist upwards, and in color they become pale, the veins turn white, necrosis begins; with iron deficiency, foxes turn yellow, thinner and sag.

Correct the situation can be properly selected top dressing. If you determine exactly which trace element is missing and why, then universal way- spray with a solution of immunomodulators: in hot weather - with Zircon; in cool and rainy - Epin; between them - apply Mortar (2 tablespoons per bucket of water) for general top dressing.

thin leaf virus

As a rule, it develops only with prolonged drought and an excess of illumination in the greenhouse. In this case, the plants do not die, but the yield is very weak, the fruits are small, wrinkled, with a hard middle. You can try to save them in this way: at intervals of 2-3 days, successively spray the leaf with a solution of urea and pale pink potassium permanganate, and shade with synthetic material from excess sun.

If this does not help, then it is better to remove the plant from the garden and burn it so that the virus does not spread.

Tomato bacteriosis

Sick tomatoes do not grow well, they have shortened shoots, small and ugly flowers, and the leaves curl, as a rule, only adult plants. Juveniles simply grow thin and heavily feathery.

The disease is transmitted by seed, with diseased plants infecting the soil. It is almost impossible to cure such tomatoes - just remove and then disinfect the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate and then sow mustard as green manure - its phytoncides kill pathogens, and the green mass after overheating will become an excellent source of humus.

Wrong stepson

If, after splicing, the tomato leaves are wrapped in a funnel, it means that you overdid it with this manipulation. Firstly, you missed the optimal time when the stepchildren reached 5-7 cm in length. Secondly, too many vegetative parts were removed at the same time. Twisting the tomato leaves into such a situation is a reaction to stress. Usually at the same time, flowers are massively showered. Exit, just do foliar top dressing, and in a week the plant will recover. True, part of the crop will be lost.

Too much organic fertilizer

Too little is bad, too much is even worse. Excessive application of manure (especially fresh), watering undiluted to the desired concentration of slurry or herbal infusions leads to the fact that the plant can no longer absorb so many nutrients and twists the leaf to reduce photosynthesis. And, besides, evaporation and released from fermentation organic matter ammonia leads to burns, from which the leaves curl up and die.

If the leaves of tomato seedlings are twisting, this is a reason to worry, because delay can cost you the harvest. The reasons for this behavior may lie in the disease, lack or, conversely, an excess of nutrients, in the attack of pests, excessively high air temperature. In general, there are a lot of options. To determine which one suits your particular case, we will look at the most common ones, as well as talk about what to do in each case.

Variety feature

The leaves of some tomato varieties are twisted due to selection and genetics. For example, varieties "Fatima", "Oxheart", "Cherry" have leaves that curl down. Moreover, if all the seedlings have the same leaves twist, then there is no need to worry - this is just a feature of this type of tomato.

Air temperature

Young plants have not yet developed resistance to scorching sunbeams, some varieties are completely shade-loving, so the leaves with a tube may be a reaction to too high an air temperature. Actually this defensive reaction tomatoes - so they try to reduce the area of evaporation in order to retain more moisture. What to do in this case? Try to water the beds so that water does not fall on the leaves in the sun, arrange a canopy or transplant tomatoes in the shade.

Little moisture

Love for moisture in tomato seedlings can be sung in poems. Therefore, when you notice the strange behavior of the leaves, check if they are getting enough water or sitting on dry rations, trying to draw moisture from the soil. Maybe this is the reason. In this case, so that they stop curling, increase the frequency of watering, and also mulch the ground with mowed grass. On the one hand, this will help the plant retain moisture, and on the other hand, it will help to avoid too rapid evaporation of liquid from the ground during dry periods.

Excess moisture

Sometimes a lot is even worse than nothing. With watering seedlings, this saying works 100%. If you overdo it with watering, then the leaves twist up. This happens, first of all, because the roots of the tomato have nothing to breathe. To avoid this, you should fill the holes with loose soil, and also make furrows from the holes to remove moisture.

Pests and diseases

A common cause of diseases that affect tomato leaves is an invasion of harmful insects or fungal diseases. The larger the area of \u200b\u200bthe beds, the more likely the appearance of this kind of trouble. Most insects settle on the lower part of the leaves, suck out the vital juices, which is why the leaves curl inward, and then die off.

One of the most pernicious enemies of tomatoes is the whitefly. This insect rarely exceeds 1.5 mm in length, it is yellow in color with two pairs of wings. Gathering in flocks, whiteflies completely cover the leaf and eat it. The plant is covered with black bloom and soon dies. If a whitefly is found, immediately treat the leaves of tomatoes with an insecticidal solution.

Another cause of leaf curl is bacterial cancer. The main symptom of the disease is that the leaves curl down, and then into short term become brown and dry out. Also, cracks appear on the lower part of the petioles. Plants that have undergone a disease should be removed from the garden: cut, treat the cut with copper oxychloride, and then destroy.

Leaf curl can cause tobacco mosaic virus. The leaves are covered with a mosaic of dark green and light green segments, swellings appear. With this disease, it is necessary to remove diseased plants, and spray the remaining ones with antifungal agents.

Another fungal disease that can affect tomatoes is Fusarium. First of all, the lower leaves wither, gradually the disease moves up. In addition, the leaf plates can change color to yellowish, the upper shoots wither, a light coating forms on the leaves and pinkish in the basal area. The symptoms of verticillium are very similar to fusarium, but the leaves curl up, wither, darken, but the plant, with proper care, easily survives the disease and survives to harvest. In both cases, it is necessary to use antifungal drugs.

Brown spot is one of the diseases of tomato seedlings in a greenhouse. A brown coating with a velvety texture spreads along the lower edge of the plate. The leaves wither, and the fungus spreads from them to neighboring plants. The number of waterings should be reduced, spraying with copper oxychloride should be done.

If you suspect the causes of wilting of seedling leaves during harmful influence diseases or insects, then it is necessary to make infusions from the ashes, celandine juice and onion peel, and then spray the diseased plants.

Nutrients

If the reasons for the poor condition of the seedling leaves are not moisture, pests or disease, then you may be faced with a shortage or, conversely, an excess of nutrients in the soil, which should not be.

The lack of useful trace elements is characterized by a change in the color of the leaves to dark brown. The leaves are bent down, the shoots become smaller, turn yellow and sag. In this case, it is necessary to carry out complex foliar feeding as a support for plants.

It happens that they overdid it with fertilizer. In such cases, the leaves form tubes, they are ulcerated with burns and quickly die off. This happens because the plant cannot absorb all the trace elements and tries to reduce active photosynthesis from their overabundance.

Wrong pinching

Pinching or pinching should be done carefully and at the right time, otherwise you will bring the tomatoes with your own hands to what they have instead beautiful leaves shriveled tubes will remain.

If the stepchildren have reached a length of 7-8 cm - you can pinch, less or more - you will harm the plant.

Try not to remove a large number of parts involved in the growing season at once.

Watch your plants. If you notice signs of unusual behavior of leaves, stems, flowers, then try to identify and eliminate the causes.

Video "Tomato malnutrition is the cause of leaf curl"

Find out what nutrients you need to add to keep the leaves from curling on the tomato bushes.

The lack of nutrients in tomatoes (tomato) and the causes of leaf curl

When growing tomatoes on their site, almost all gardeners face various deviations in their growth. The first difficulty is how to determine what is with the tomato? Where to look?

The answer is simple - look at the leaves, or rather, first find out in which part the problem is - at the top of the bush (young leaves) or at the bottom of the bush (old leaves).

One of the reasons is the lack of elements in the nutrition of a tomato.

Below are examples of deviations that I found on the Internet and which I partially know myself.

Watch the video: Lack of nutrients in tomatoes and the causes of leaf curl

If the problem starts with the LOWER LEAVES (OLD):

Some elements move in the plant from older parts (lower) to young (upper) growing parts, so the deficiency will be noticeable on the lower, older leaves:

Most likely lack of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and magnesium

N Nitrogen One of the main elements of the formation of organic matter. Regulates the growth of the vegetative mass, determines the level of yield

Short: lower leaves turn yellow first + bluish-red veins + small leaves of the whole plant.

Deficiency symptoms: the plant turns yellow-green, without vigor. The roots are thin and weak.

With a lack of nitrogen, the tomato leaves are small, green-yellowish in color, and the veins on the underside of the leaf have a bluish-red tint. The stems can be the same color, the fruits are small, woody. The critical period is the time of fruit formation. Lack of nitrogen during this period can lead to the formation of small fruits. If you decide to grow seedlings for sale, then a lack of nitrogen can lead to the loss of all profits - plants with yellow lower leaves will not be bought.

Too much nitrogen is just as bad as too little. With an excess of nitrogen in the soil, tomatoes develop a powerful vegetative mass - leaves and stems grow strongly, plants become "lazy", which leads to a decrease in fruit formation and a delay in fruit ripening and a decrease in plant resistance to diseases. If you do not get rid of excess nitrogen by strongly washing the soil with water, then dark yellow dying spots appear on the leaves between the nerves, the leaves twist, although the branching of the stems increases.

P Phosphorus- element of energy supply. It activates the growth of the root system and the laying of generative organs. It accelerates the development of all processes, increases cold resistance, increases resistance to mechanical damage and improves the preservation of fruits, increases resistance to root rot and other diseases. It is consumed by tomatoes 5 times less than nitrogen, however, it is extremely important for fruit formation and the development of the root system. Considering that the generative organs of the first brushes in tomatoes begin to form early, in the phase of the sixth or eighth true leaf, feeding tomatoes with easily soluble phosphate fertilizers is especially effective during the seedling growing period.

Appearance : dark leaves+ turning the leaves inside + purple coloring of the veins of the leaves and stems.

Deficiency symptoms: The plant is dark blue-green in color with crimson underparts of the lower leaves. Stunted growth. A lack of phosphorus in a tomato causes the leaf lobes to curl inwards.

Violet color of leaves and stems.

There are two critical periods: at the beginning of the development of the root system and during the formation of flowers and ovaries.

Also, phosphorus may not be enough in cold weather - it is not absorbed.

In the future, if fertilizing with phosphate fertilizers is not carried out, the leaves along the main nerve curl outward downwards, and the leaf lobes curl inward, the fruits ripen poorly, acquire a bronze color, and the roots become covered with a rusty coating. With further phosphorus starvation, the plants remain dwarfed, young leaves are directed upwards at a smaller (acute) angle with respect to the stem.

K Potassium- Tomatoes are used in small quantities, and especially during the fruiting period of plants. The role of potassium is also important at the first stages of development of tomatoes for the formation of stems and ovaries, the active assimilation of carbon dioxide. Element of cell youth. Enhances the formation of sugars (carbohydrates) and their movement through tissues, increases resistance to disease, frost, drought. Makes the plant stronger, stronger, improves the quality of the fruit. Increases the growth of the root system, reduces the lodging of the tops due to the strengthening of the stem.

Deficiency symptoms: curly young sheets + marginal burn on old ones.

Chlorosis of the tips and borders of the leaves with the appearance of necrosis. Old leaves dry up and crumble. Uneven fruit ripening is characteristic of potassium deficiency. During potassium starvation, ammonia nitrogen accumulates in the leaves (starting from the lower ones), which makes it possible to dehydrate tissues, set leaves (even when growing tomatoes in hydroponics) until they die. With a slow outflow of carbohydrates, starch accumulates in the lower leaves, which is easily detected in the analysis. The leaves first acquire a dark green color, then yellowish-brown spots appear along the edges of the leaves, which can form a continuous marginal border of dead tissue. The dots also extend to the middle of the leaf, giving it a bronze tint. The dying edges of the leaves are wrapped. The growth of branches (stems) stops, they become woody. Plants are starting to dry out.

Spots appear on the fruits and they ripen unevenly

Zn Zinc- regulates protein, lipoid, carbohydrate, phosphorus metabolism and biosynthesis of vitamins and growth substances-auxins.

Short: spots are chaotic, different size gray-bronze. The veins also fall into these spots, do not remain dark + very small chlorotic leaves.

Deficiency symptoms: Irregular chlorotic mottling is characteristic, which quickly develops into necrotic spots of various sizes. Initially, scattered spots of gray-brown and bronze color appear on the leaves of the lower and middle tiers, and then on all the leaves of the plant. Leaf blades usually become small and narrow.

With a lack of zinc in a tomato, abnormally small chlorotic leaves are formed, resembling the small-leaved fruit trees. The tissue of such areas, as it were, falls through and then dies. Young leaves are abnormally small and speckled with yellow, or evenly chlorotic, taking on slightly vertical position, the edges of the leaves can twist up. In exceptional cases, the internodes of starving plants are short and the leaves are small and thick. Spots also appear on leaf stems and stems. The lack of zinc causes the death of tissue areas on the entire surface of the leaf, and not only on the top and along its edges. Often the lateral, and sometimes the main veins, undergo this process. Areas with dead tissue decay much faster than with a lack of potassium.

Mg Magnesium- increases the intensity of photosynthesis and the formation of chlorophyll. It is especially demanded by crops with a large removal of potassium.

Magnesium is needed throughout the harvest period, although deficiency symptoms appear during periods of high fruit loading when magnesium dosages are increased and consumption of this nutrient is very rapid.

Short: starting from the lower leaves, the veins are green next to them, and between them chlorosis + leaf tips are bent inward.

Deficiency symptoms: yellow chlorosis between the veins of old leaves, sometimes accompanied by necrosis. Usually the leaf borders remain green until the deficiency becomes more severe.

Magnesium is poor in sandy and sandy soddy-podzolic soils. With a lack of magnesium, a characteristic form of chlorosis is observed - at the edges of the leaf and between the veins, the green color changes to yellow, red, purple. In the future, spots of various colors appear between the veins due to the death of tissues. At the same time, large veins and adjacent areas of the leaf remain green. The tips of the leaves and edges are bent, as a result of which the leaves arch in a domed shape, the edges of the leaves wrinkle and gradually die off. Deficiency symptoms appear and spread from the lower leaves to the upper ones.

Mo Molybdenum regulates nitrogen, carbohydrate and phosphorus metabolism, synthesis of chlorophyll and vitamins, stimulates air nitrogen fixation.

Short: mottled chlorosis + veins remain untouched + leaves twist inward.

Deficiency symptoms: Not very common. The first and second pairs of real tomato leaves with a lack of molybdenum turn yellow, curl up with edges: chlorosis spreads between the veins to the entire leaf blade.

Newly developing leaves are initially green but become speckled as they grow. The areas of chlorotic tissue subsequently swell, the edges of the leaves twist inward; necrosis develops along the edges and on the tops of the leaves.

If the problem starts with the TOP LEAVES (young and growing point):

Symptoms of this group are characteristic of a lack of calcium, boron, sulfur, iron, copper and manganese. These elements are not able to move from one part of the plant to another. Therefore, if these elements are not in the soil, then young leaves do not receive them, as a result of which they fall ill and die.

Calcium- stimulates plant growth and development of the root system. Enhances metabolism and activates enzymes.

Short: starts at the end of young leaves as scorched, and old ones increase in size + top rot.

Deficiency symptoms: Young leaves are deformed at the ends. The surface of the leaf dries up starting at the tips and borders (blackening of the fruit shows a characteristic disorder called "blossom rot").

Calcium deficiency is most noticeable on young leaves, which become chlorotic (formation of light yellow spots); old ones, on the contrary, acquire a dark green color and increase in size.

With a slight lack of calcium in tomatoes, especially in unstable varieties, fruits with a gray or brown top appear - the so-called top rot. brown spot often spreads to half a tomato. Tomatoes with an elongated fruit shape, such as “lady fingers”, are prone to the appearance of such a symptom. With a more significant lack of calcium, other signs appear - the plant slows down growth, the tops die off, the leaves become irregular in shape, the edges may look scorched. By itself, a lack of calcium is unlikely - yet almost everyone pours lime, dolomite, ash. However, excessive doses of nitrogen fertilizers, including “natural” ones - manure, litter, etc., can interfere with the absorption of calcium.

B Bor regulates pollination and fertilization, carbohydrate and protein metabolism. Increases disease resistance.

Short: apex curved down + its base begins to turn yellow + the main veins of these leaves are also brown + break easily when bent + on fruits brown spots.

Deficiency symptoms: In the case of a lack of boron, young apical leaves first lose their normal color at their curved base. The top may remain green for some time. Usually, the affected tissues quickly disintegrate, and if the growth of the leaf continues until its complete death, then the latter becomes twisted or twisted. The upper leaves are an unhealthy light green color and curl from the top to the base. The main veins of affected leaves turn brown or black and break easily when the leaf is bent.

With a lack of boron, the growth point of the tomato stem turns black, and new leaves begin to grow in the lower part, the petioles of young leaves become brittle. Brown spots of dead tissue form on the fruits. Too much boron can easily lead to toxicity.

With a slight lack of boron, tomatoes simply do not set fruits well. Boric top dressing recommended for use when abundant flowering, 1-2 times per season. With a slight lack of boron, tomatoes simply do not set fruits well. With a strong lack of boron, which is rare in real life, the growth point dies off.

S Sulfur is the building block for proteins. Participates in the metabolism and transport of substances, in the general processes of ionic equilibrium in plant cells. Included in the composition of proteins, being one of the initial products for the biosynthesis of amino acids.

Short: tissues do not die, but leaves turn yellow, bluish-red streaks (like nitrogen), but starts with upper leaves + thin stems.

Deficiency symptoms: thin stems. The lack of sulfur is manifested in the slowdown in the growth of stems in thickness, the stems become thin, brittle, lignified and hard.

The leaves of plants acquire a light green color, and later yellow, partly with a reddish tint. Unlike nitrogen deficiency (which first appears on older leaves), sulfur deficiency appears first on young leaves. The stems become thin, brittle, lignified and tough.

Fe Iron

Short: the upper leaves turn yellow, starting from the bases + veins in these places as well. You can see the yellowing top.

Deficiency symptoms: Young leaves become yellow-green, then the color becomes lemon-yellow and yellow-white with increased deficiency. Symptoms begin at the base of the leaves. Signs of iron deficiency: plant growth is delayed, the youngest leaves become chlorotic. In acute deficiency, the leaves turn white and only the leaf veins at the edges remain green. From old leaves to young iron does not move.

Iron deficiency is also called chlorosis. It is found in alkaline soils, in soils where too much lime has swelled.

It is treated quite simply. Applying a solution iron sulphate(no more than 1% concentration) on the leaves, such chlorosis disappears in just a few hours.

In tomatoes, this type of chlorosis is more common in the early seedling period, when round-the-clock illumination of seedlings is often recommended. If such highlighting is not stopped, then without iron supplements, chlorosis will occur sooner or later (approximately 1-2 weeks).

Cl Chlorine

Deficiency symptoms: These leaves have irregular shape with severe intervenous chlorosis. Plants require a relatively high concentration of chloride in their tissues. Chloride is very abundant in soil, reaching its highest concentration in salt marshes, but it can be deficient in leached soils.

The most common signs of deficiency are chlorosis and wilting of young leaves. Chlorosis is formed on the intervenous parts of the leaf blades. With a stronger deficiency, the surfaces of mature leaves acquire a bronze color. Usually crops are chlorine tolerant, but some species such as avocados, stone fruits and grapes are sensitive to chlorine and show toxicity even at low chlorine levels in the soil.

The limiting content of chlorine in greenhouse soil for tomatoes is 0.02% on air-dry soil

Mn manganese- regulates photosynthesis, respiration, carbohydrate and protein metabolism, activates enzymes.

Short: starts at the base of the upper leaves, as in iron deficiency, but the veins are not uniformly colored and greener than in iron deficiency.

Deficiency symptoms: Usually begin to appear on the youngest leaves, where chlorosis between leaf veins contrasts with patchy dark green leaf veins. As the deficiency progresses, the spaces between the veins become more yellow compared to iron deficiency, in which yellowing begins at the base of the leaves. Not very common. It happens on soils where fertilizers with microelements are rarely used, and where a lot of lime is applied or simply watered a lot with very hard water from a well. With this type of chlorosis, the veins also remain green, and yellow spots appear between the veins and the entire leaf becomes variegated and bright. Can be confused with a viral mosaic and very frightened.

Rolling leaves.

The observed twisting of tomato leaves is due to several reasons: sharp changes in day and night temperatures (the difference should be within 5-7 degrees); removing a large number stepchildren or leaves; low temperatures and high humidity at night.

Leaves lying on the ground, sick, yellow are removed regularly. And also the leaves or shoots that form on the brushes, the so-called growths.

To improve ventilation, light and reduce humidity, the lower leaves are removed three weeks after planting. However, more than 2-3 leaves in tall and 1-2 in low- and medium-sized varieties should not be removed per week.

By the beginning of fruit ripening on the first brush, but not earlier, all leaves before it should be removed. To get a good harvest, it is enough that the plant has 13-18 leaves, not counting those at the top.

Leaf breaking and pinching is carried out the day before watering, foliar feeding, so that the wounds have time to heal and are not a gateway for the penetration of diseases, especially gray rot.

According to my observations, it is.

And one more thing: Everything is in order if the top has twisted leaves in the morning, and during the day they straighten out, the flowers are bright yellow, 2 flowers bloom at once in the brush, the fruits at the base of the brush are larger, the brushes are located at an obtuse angle to the stem.

With your help, I managed to cope with the acidity of the soil. The tomatoes are doing well. Blossom, powerful, leaves are dark green. But in the middle row, opposite the doors, the tops of the tall tomatoes, as it were, “curled up”, twisted into a “cam”.

I read literature. Explanations are different. Basically, I fill it with too much water. This is not, because I rake the soil, it's dry. There may be insufficient watering.

The middle row is practically blown through and the earth dries faster than the side beds. Plants are tall, powerful, bloom. I think they need good watering.

Not 2 times a week, as they say in various reference books. With such heat in a polycarbonate greenhouse, the earth dries very quickly. Maybe I'm wrong. Tell me what to do.

Previously, when growing tomatoes in makeshift greenhouses, there were no such problems. Sincerely, Valentina. Hello Valentine! Many summer residents face this problem. Curly tomato leaves can be for various reasons.

You indicated one of them correctly - insufficient watering during the heat period. A plant that lacks moisture will curl its leaves. Thus, the tomato manages to reduce the evaporation of moisture by reducing the surface area of the leaf plate.

At the same time, the lower leaves, illuminated less by the rays of the sun and better ventilated, remain normal. Important! Choose the watering mode, focusing on the appearance of the plants. But remember that excess moisture provokes the occurrence of fungal diseases.