Tomato seedling diseases, leaf curling

Often, after planting tomato seedlings, gardeners begin to worry about leaf curl and how to combat it. There can be many causes, and we'll cover each one in turn.

First, this is a natural process common to certain tomato varieties, such as 'Honey Drop' or 'Fatima.' If all plants of this variety have the same curled leaves, there's no need to worry. Second, it could be that you slightly damaged the roots when transplanting the seedlings, causing the plant to become quiet and curl its leaves in an attempt to restore its root system. Once the process is established, the leaves will return to normal.

Lack and excess of moisture

The leaves may curl for this reason. The plant is trying to protect the moisture it has. In hot weather, it curls its leaves to reduce evaporation, and in the evening or on cloudy days, it uncurls them to soak up the dew. If the leaves open at night, take a closer look—this is the cause.

How to combat: Increase watering, but avoid foliar spraying. This is harmful to the leaves, as it will burn them in hot weather, and morning watering can lead to late blight. However, evening foliar spraying can also cause this. It's best to water the roots thoroughly, every three days. This is because tomato roots run deep, and shallow watering, even daily, won't produce results.

The same picture can occur with excess moisture, especially in clay soils, where heavy rains cause moisture to slowly penetrate the soil, and the tomatoes suffocate without oxygen. Create drainage channels away from the plants to allow excess moisture to drain away.

Find out, Which tomato varieties are best? everything for growing in a greenhouse in the Moscow region.

Low in nutrients

Not all gardeners take their plants seriously; many follow the "plant and forget" approach. But plants, like people, also need to eat and drink, and in bare, empty soil they will also starve, expressing their discontent in their own way and trying to show their owners that they're not doing well. Plants need to be fed every two weeks; they'll tell you what they need:

• If tomato leaves turn red-purple, they clearly lack phosphorus.
• Fragile leaves bend downwards – there is a lack of zinc.
• The leaves are curling and turning lighter – feed them with boron.
• They curl into a tube and become smaller – sulfur and copper are needed.
• The leaves curl upward and turn pale – calcium is needed.
• Thin, drooping leaves - urgently need iron!

Sometimes the symptoms are so similar that it's hard to figure out what your tomatoes need. Then do it simply: use Zircon or Epin (the former is better for hot weather, the latter for cool weather) and treat the plants. You can also add one treatment with Rastvorin, and your tomatoes will revive.

Nutrient overload

Yes, tomatoes can also get sick from this, especially if you overdo it with unrotted manure or rich herbal infusions. The plant can't absorb all the nutrients, curling its leaves, reducing photosynthesis. Excess nitrogen will lead to lush foliage, and you won't get a normal harvest. The plant curls its leaves, thickens its stem, and produces powerful side shoots. This is a warning sign—there's too much nitrogen in the soil, and the picture needs to be smoothed out. This can be done with ash. Dissolve a glass of potassium sulfate in a bucket and sprinkle the warm infusion on the plants. If you don't have ash, take a teaspoon of potassium sulfate, dissolve it in a bucket of water, and apply it to the plants.

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High temperature

If your greenhouse seedlings are curling their leaves, check the temperature. If it's too hot, it's a natural process, the plant is trying to protect itself. Increase ventilation, cover them with lutrasil, treat them with urea (1 liter per bucket of water), and then apply potassium permanganate after a couple of days.

Viral diseases

There are many such diseases, including bacterial canker, fusarium wilt, tobacco mosaic, verticillium wilt, and others. Diseased plants should be removed, burned, and the remaining tomatoes and soil treated with potassium permanganate or copper oxychloride. For fungal diseases, you can use any antifungal product and save the plants with a couple of treatments.

Insects

Tomatoes are often attacked by aphids, whiteflies, or spider mites. Inspect the plants for leaf curling. You'll see insects on the undersides of the leaves. Treat them with insecticides, as the insects suck the plant's sap and inject poisons, causing them to curl.

By the way, read: How to grow a watermelon outdoors in the Moscow region.