Tomato leaves curling
Last post 15-05-2009 6:33 PM by Alix. 21 replies.
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19/06/2008 09:05 PM
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- Lloyd
- Sandy
- 08 Mar 2008
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61
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One of my tomato plants ('Big Boy') recently started to have very curled leaves, and the whole plant is now looking rather sad. The plant next to it (Moneymaker) is also starting to look unwell, and I'm starting to wonder if all the plants are starting to have curled leaves, or is it just my pessimistic imagination.
The leaves are not discoloured in any way. The green house is well ventilated during the day. The plants are direct into the border, which is a mixture of well rotted horse manure, imported top soil and garden soil.
Any suggestions as to what this might be, and should I be pulling the sick plants up, or is it too late ?
Thanks
Lloyd
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19/06/2008 09:17 PM
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- Phot's-Moll
- The sunny South coast.
- 06 Jan 2007
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3,347
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I hope it's nothing drastic - both for your sake and my own. I have a few plants that have curled leaves too. Mine are outside and I wondered if it was due to the rather cool night we'd had recently, but that wouldn't account for yours in the greenhouse.
Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.
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19/06/2008 09:44 PM
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- sue1002
- Ipswich, Suffolk
- 06 Sep 2005
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5,200
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I think it is the cooler nights causing it, mine are in the greenhouse and some curl a bit on the cooler nights and recover in a couple of days.
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20/06/2008 07:20 AM
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- Phot's-Moll
- The sunny South coast.
- 06 Jan 2007
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3,347
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Thanks, Sue - sounds as though we needn't panic.
Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.
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20/06/2008 10:58 AM
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Toms do this. Its changing temperatures that do it. So long as they are green they are alright.
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21/06/2008 06:56 PM
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- Lloyd
- Sandy
- 08 Mar 2008
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61
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Thanks everyone for your advice. Unfortunately I think it is more serious than the cold. I should change my description from curled to distorted. The leader now seems to be non-existent, and the whole plant is showing signs of distortion (on the Big Boy and Moneymaker). The lower leaves are brittle at the edges, the the distorted higher leaves are very small. There is one truss with small fruit on the Moneymaker, and the Big Boy had a few flowers, one of which was very large. Have taken a few pictures which I will attempt to post tomorrow.
Have done a bit of research on the web, but can't find anything that matches the symptoms completely. I did think it might be Tobacco Mosaic Virus but the foliage is still green, so I don't think it is this. If anyone else has any ideas I'd be glad to hear them.
Thanks
Lloyd
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21/06/2008 08:18 PM
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- sue1002
- Ipswich, Suffolk
- 06 Sep 2005
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5,200
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Is there any chance that some sort of weedkiller has been anywhere near the plants or the soil? as this could cause the distortion problems. If you have a lawn nearby and have used any of the weed and feed products then the wind might have carried it into the greenhouse, it was just a thought...
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22/06/2008 11:09 AM
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- Lloyd
- Sandy
- 08 Mar 2008
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61
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I've not used any weed and feed on the lawn this year, and no other weedkillers. The greenhouse is new this year, and was puton the site of an old summerhouse, We imported some top soil from my brother in law, so will check with him on weedkiller use etc. We also added some well rotted horse manure, but I can't see that being a source - it was a few years old and contained no straw etc. Is it feasible that there is something in the soil under the summerhouse that I disturbed ?
I should have published some photos below - the first two are the Moneymaker, the second two Big Boy.
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22/06/2008 11:28 AM
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- Lloyd
- Sandy
- 08 Mar 2008
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61
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My first reply to this has been held for moderating. I'll try again, but with links for the images.
I've not used any weed and feed on the lawn this year, and no other weedkillers. The greenhouse is new this year, and was put on the site of an old summerhouse. We imported some top soil from my brother in law, so will check with him on weedkiller use etc. We also added some well rotted horse manure, but I can't see that being a source - it was a few years old and contained no straw etc. Is it feasible that there is something in the soil under the summerhouse that I disturbed ?
Images of the Big Boy plant are here and here.
Images of Moneymaker here and here.
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22/06/2008 11:30 AM
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- Lloyd
- Sandy
- 08 Mar 2008
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61
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Thanks Sue.
Have made a couple of replies, with embedded images and links to images, and both are being held for moderation. The new top soil could be a source of weedkiller, so I'll check to see if that is the case. Hopefully the replies with pictures will appear soon.....
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25/06/2008 09:03 AM
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- sue1002
- Ipswich, Suffolk
- 06 Sep 2005
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5,200
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Those pictures don't look good at all Lloyd, you mentioned that you had used some manure and according to this it may or may not be the reason
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25/06/2008 06:49 PM
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- Lloyd
- Sandy
- 08 Mar 2008
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61
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Hi Sue
I thought that you had hit the nail on the head with the manure. However I talked to my supplier this afternoon, and she is growing tomatos in manure from the same pile with no problems (although she is going to double check and keep a close eye on them). I might try and quiz the brother in law again over the top soil.
In the meantime, I've purchasd two new tomato plants, which I intend to keep in pots - this should help me determine if the problem is in the soil.
Lloyd
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26/06/2008 10:21 PM
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- Lloyd
- Sandy
- 08 Mar 2008
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61
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I'm starting to get suspicious that the runner beans and peas are begining to show symptoms - both had good helpings of manure. (I'm hoping that I'm getting paranoid,) They are in the same mix of new top soil and manure.
Looking at some other gardening sites, the manure problem does seem to be being reported by a number of people - I'm surprised no one else on this site has mentioned problems, either with Tomatos or other susceptible plants. I think I'm going to send some samples off to Wisely on Saturday, and see if they can determine what is going on. I've also found the products that are thought to be the source of the manure issue, so will talk again to my horse friend to double check she has not used any of the suspect products.
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27/06/2008 09:00 AM
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Sounds like you have bought contaminated manure:
http://www.rhs.org.uk/news/Weedkiller-manure.asp
Boggy
Beware the bat-eared bogweevil
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27/06/2008 09:15 AM
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- Digger
- Northern UK
- 18 Jul 2005
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4,743
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certain herbicides can leave residue in manure,or the horses could have been recently vaccinated or treated for worms,usually these residues are removed by the process of rotting down so maybe something has been added to the manure heap unknowingly.
digger 
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