tomatoe plants?

Question

my little brother has some tomatoe plants growing in the back yard for his high school bio class. the problem is the tips are starting to turn yellow and curl under. what is the problem and what can "he", I, do to fix it. thanks.

Answer 1

Without seeing the actual leaf I can't tell you 100% for sure but your description sound like they have tobacco mosaic virus. It's not that uncommon for tomatos to get it and unfortunately there is no cure. It's also contagious so it can spread from plant to plant.

The only way Epsom salts will help is if the plant has a magnesiun deficiency and yellow curling leaves are not the symptom of Mg deficiency.

You can try fertilizer (weak sol'n) and less water in case it's not TMV.

Answer 2

Hard to say exactly what it is. The other answers are good guesses. It might also be that the plants are being over-watered. That's a common mistake made with tomato growing. Tomatoes are very deep rooted and unless they are in containers, it's best to water deeply and infrequently once established in the ground.

But, I'm inclined to agree that this may be a soil problem or a plant virus problem. Take a cutting of the problem leaves to your local nursery or university agricultural station. They can tell you right away what's wrong.

Answer 3

Usually yellow leaves are a sign of iron defficiency. You can use commercially available "Copperas" or the inexpensive alternative rusty nails (any kind of rusting metal works) - poke them in the soil around the plants. Tomatoes are heavy drinkers and heavy feeders. Keep them moist but not soaked and give them a weekly feeding of MiracleGro.

I hope your brother (you) score high on this project. How sweet of you do do his homework!!!

Answer 4

Give them an Epson Salt treatment. The mineral in epson salt will revive the plants to greenery.

Mix about a 1/2 cup of Epson Salt in a pail of water and soak down the plant.