Yellow Leaves - Any Ideas?

Greetings Fellow Forum Friends.

I've been monitoring my tomato plant (on the balcony) for the last few days as to its condition and report the fact that the leaves are turning yellow with some considerable speed.

The branches the leaves are sat on come away from the main stalk with considerable ease. Incidentally, no tomatos are growing on these branches.

Otherwise, the tomatoes on the others, however, appear to be growing ok (turning red - as they should do). I picked off one tomato a week ago where a ceremonial cutting and devouring of this poor, innocent and solitary victim took place..! :hehe: We're still alive. :gnthb:

I've also noticed tiny black flies (albeit a very minor infestation) are sitting on the plant, which I would consider to be normal... :cnfs:

With the aforementioned clues in mind, do anyone of you over in Blighty have any suggestions as to what the problem may be?

Also, the tomatoes are somewhat hairy. Is that also normal?

I very much look forward to your views and advice.

With sincere regards,

V_B 0)

 

Greetings Very British.

I'm a gardening beginner however, I have heard it mentioned quite a bit that the yellowing of leaves can be a sign of magnesium deficiency. Do you feed the plants regularly? I had some yellowing of the leaves when I began feeding & a friend told me about a type of powdered magnesium called epsom salt which as far as I know can be applied when watering and also sprayed on the leaves. Mine recovered on their own (only now to be struck down with blight :()

 

Sorry about the "blight" Freedom Spark, your advice about the yellow leaves is correct,dont know about the "hairy " though.:cnfs: What sort are they

 

@ Pam - good question, well put - haven't got a clue. I doubt the better 'arf will know either.

The 'victim' tasted good and we've suffered no consequences as a result, so I guess we can devour the rest when they're ready. :thumb:

As for feeding the plants, I'm afraid we've been somewhat short-sighted about this process due to our inexperience. I wouldn't even know what epsom salt is in German either so please provide feeding tips, which will be most gratefully received.

With sincere regards,

V_B0)

 

You can get Epsom Salts from the chemist. I just asked for it and they found it for me. :wink: As I remember, it was a teaspoonful in a pint of water and spray daily. Leastways that's what I did and it worked a treat. See, I even did the measurements in old money and not metric. Anything to help out the "very British":D

 

MgSO4 should work in any language :D Or magnesium sulphate in English.

I've noticed that magnesium deficiency seems to hit my pot grown toms rather than the ones I grow in the ground. I'm starting to think that any magnesium in the potting compost gets used up or washed out at an early stage and doesn't get replaced until I start feeding when the first fruit sets. It's the lower leaves that seem to be affected rather than the leaves further up the plants that develop after I start feeding. I think that next year I'll try feeding with a dilute solution of a balanced fertiliser after the first three weeks in pots.

 

Greetings and salutations Very British,your question the yellowing of the leaves on your tomatoes,this problem is called "chlorosis" it is the plants inability to produce chlorophill and can have many causes,one of thecauses is magnesium defficiency as pointed out by my fellow gardeners or it can be waterlogging at the roots the remedy being hold back on the water it can also be iron deficiency in which case a dose of "sequestered iron would be advisable this neutalises the liming effect encountered by using hard water.

 

What!!? We sow them, nurture them, raise them, plant them, support them, feed them, protect them, now we have to start shaving them as well???:hehe:

 

You're so kind Cajary.

One really has to maintain one's values and standards, especially when the 'gentry' of our society, regardless of sex is dying of death, so I gather.

Here's to Pimms, village greens and church bells, a good bowlful of black cavendish and wearing good ol' tweed, tie and the faithful panama whilst digging over one's garden... hurra!!! :thumb:

Sincere yours,

V_B 0)

 

@ John, Walnut, Manteur, etc...

Many thanks for your points. To suggest their about as hairy as an Italian's armpit (not that I've looked lately) would be somewhat over-the-top. I meant that the 'hair' is very, very fine. That's unless the Krauts have some sort of tomato we Blighties aren't aware of..!?

Sincere regards,

V_B

 

oh cool, shame U dont know the variety, would be interesting to see

 

the hairs i mean

 

@ JWK - I'll gladly oblige as soon as the sun comes out. Whether or not my steam-driven digital camera (it accepts floppy discs only ) will provide a clear picture remains to be seen.

I'll get back to you......................