Tomato Leaves skinny and curling up

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by David G, Jul 8, 2011.

  1. David G

    David G Gardener

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    Hi

    I have notice the leaves on my Tomato plants are looking skinnier than normal and are curling inwards see picture below any ideas??

    Thanks
    Dave
     

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  2. pamsdish

    pamsdish Total Gardener

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    I have no idea although I will say there seems more leaves than enough. :DOH:I always break off my leaves half way down to shorten them, :o as I read an article once "are you growing leaves or tomatoes" :rolleyespink:and I don`t really know if it makes a difference ,but I feel the plant doesn`t then have huge amounts of leaves to keep going and can concentrate on fruiting ???:happydance:
     
  3. miraflores

    miraflores Total Gardener

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    Hi David - could it be that the plants are too close one another and they don't get enough water?
     
  4. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    They look OK to me, the top ones tend to look smaller than the lower ones.
    Some varieties seem to get thinner leaves at the top.

    Probably shortage of nitrogen, but you need to keep up the tom feed.

    They dont actually need a lot of nitrogen at that stage.
     
  5. daitheplant

    daitheplant Total Gardener

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    David, leaf curl like that is normal in tomatoes. :dbgrtmb: Pam, leaves are a plants " power station ", don`t cut them off or reduce their size unless they are dying.
     
  6. Rockmoc

    Rockmoc Gardener

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    As long as there is no mottling on the leaves I would agree with Dai (who Wouldn't :love30:) just keep on with the regular feeds and water.
     
  7. David G

    David G Gardener

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    More pictures

    Hi

    Thanks for the replies but I don't think the picture I attached showed the extent of the curling and change in growth, I have noticed that this started on on or two plants near the door and has spread back through the greenhouse I have attached a few more pictures to try and show what is different this year to any other I have grown.

    The leaves a dry and hard/crispy and the tops of the plants look deformed.

    Thanks

    Dave
     

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  8. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Looking at the last three pics Dave, I'm now thinking maybe virus, or maybe weedkiller contamination.
     
  9. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Have you been using any weedkiller Dave? It looks very much like that. Tomatoes are very susceptible to the slightest whiff of spray, even if it's on your clothes a few hours after spraying with Roundup for example. I hope you use a seperate watering can for your weedkiller.
     
  10. lazydog

    lazydog Know nothing but willing to learn

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  11. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Good idea, but it's not quite the same symptoms lazydog, that manure problem caused tomato stems/leaves to go all contorted. I should know I was one of the ones affected 3 years ago, wiped out my complete veggie patch :(
     
  12. David G

    David G Gardener

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    Hi

    Pete JWK I am thinking virus as I have not used any weedkiller and I don't think the neighbours have been using any although that would make sense with the problem starting from the door. I am desperately hoping that the tomatoes are not effected, my wife has just announced that the neighbours have been working on their garden so I may need to enquire over the fence!!

    Lazy dog no manure used.

    Thanks for all your help

    Regards

    Dave
     
  13. Trunky

    Trunky ...who nose about gardening

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    I'm thinking the same pete.
    David G, you say it started near the greenhouse door, this suggests damage from weedkiller which has drifted in from outside, rather than virus.
    Looking at the curling of the leaves, if weedkiller is the culprit it's more likely to be of one of the selective weedkillers used to treat lawns, rather than something like Roundup (Glyophosate) which would result in the leaves turning yellow before drooping and falling off, rather than curling up as shown in the pictures.
     
  14. Jack McHammocklashing

    Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

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    Elephant Oh no do not go there

    Twenty or more years ago my dad got a bargain, the circus was in town and the Elephants were kept in a very large garage along the road from us

    He got free Elephant manure
    Unfortunatley like I, he knew not a lot about gardening and within two weeks even the privet hedge was dead :-)

    Jack McH
     
  15. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    I've only come across weedkiller contamination of toms once myself.

    A neighbour was storing a container of weedkiller in his greenhouse.

    It must have just been the fumes, but all his toms that year had similar defects.
    The fruit was also misshapen and had a strange taste,
     
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