Fruit and Vegetables

Re: Tomato leaves curling

Alix — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:33:18 GMT

I must say I've grown a lot of tomatoes but never seen any like this! They do look worryingly like the daisies on my neighbour's lawn after she used weed killer on them. Aren't they flowering a bit early also?

Re: Tomato leaves curling

ginmore — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:52:02 GMT

I was searching Google to find out what was wrong with my tomato having curly leaves and I found your images. Mine are exactly like that today. I never did put manure in my garden. I have had my 20 x 24 raised garden for 3 years now and this is the first time this has happened.

I did add 6 new sacks of Mircle Grow garden soil last fall in my for my winter garden and it did well. Did not add any more soil this spring. I use only Organic pesticides. I have an irrigation watering system set between the rows and the tops of the plants do not get wet except for rain, which is happening now.

After reading all the posts, I think I will bring a piece to my Feed and Garden center which seems to be able to tell me about the problems. I probably will not be able to go until Saturday. But if I find out anything, I post it here. I will keep reading to find out if anyone else finds out anything.

Re: Tomato leaves curling

ginmore — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:41:16 GMT

Re: Tomato leaves curling

bogweevil — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:25:58 GMT

Unless you have the typical curled, ferny, cupped leaves and elongate shoots you are probably spared weedkiller damage.

Sounds like uneven growth from under or over watering, excess sunlight (you need to shade your grenhouse in summer) or fluctuating temperatures.

Boggy

Re: Tomato leaves curling

splez4 — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:17:53 GMT

i have a couple of tomato plants that are getting crinkly leaves almost as if the center of the leaves are growing faster than the outsides? one has already died, the rest seem to be ok and have small fruit on, they are in a greenhouse in buckets the soil is last years basket compost baught from no frills diy, and fresh compost baught from asda and mixed? no manure has been used, or weed killer on my garden,

Re: Tomato leaves curling

Digger — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:12:47 GMT

I think it will mainly be cow manure that contains the herbicide they eat grass and clamp all year round where as horses don't unless some clown cuts hay or hayledge from treated grass, I would think horse manure would be a better option than cow muck at the moment.

Re: Tomato leaves curling

Gaby — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:42:42 GMT

Dear Lloyd

I hate to worry you, but must draw your attention to the problem of aminopyralid, a herbicide used by farmers on grass, unsuitable for food crops which has nonetheless passed through the guts of cows and horses, into their manure and onto our gardens. Several plot holders have been having problems at our allotments and your toms sound very like mine which i think are affected.

See link to Sunday Observer article:

http://browse.guardian.co.uk/search?search=aminopyralid&sitesearch-radio=guardian

It's hard to believe that at this point in time after all our experience (with DDT for example) that we're still doing this?! I may be in danger of ranting, so i'll shut up now!

best of luck

Gaby

Re: Tomato leaves curling

Digger — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:15:50 GMT

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.

Re: Tomato leaves curling

bogweevil — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:00:24 GMT

Sounds like you have bought contaminated manure:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/news/Weedkiller-manure.asp

Boggy

Re: Tomato leaves curling

Lloyd — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:21:39 GMT

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.

Re: Tomato leaves curling

Lloyd — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:49:27 GMT

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

Re: Tomato leaves curling

sue1002 — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:03:00 GMT

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

Re: Tomato leaves curling

Lloyd — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:30:36 GMT

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.....

Re: Tomato leaves curling

Lloyd — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:28:10 GMT

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.

Re: Tomato leaves curling

Lloyd — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:09:43 GMT

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.