Yellow leaves on tomato plants
 

I have 4 tomato plants in pots that have lots of fruit and have been doing great. About 10 days ago the lower leaves and branches began turning yellow, wilting, and shriveling up. Is this not enough water? Too much water? Or normal? My brother in law says this always happens to his plants, not to worry about it, but I don't always trust what he says. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Yellow leaves on tomato plants
 

Maybe not enough love. Try talking nicely to the tomatoes.



or maybe you have this:

http://gardening.about.com/od/vegeta...toProblems.htm

Verticillium Wilt This name can be misleading, as sometimes the leaves will turn yellow, dry up and never appear to wilt. Verticillium wilt is caused by a soil-borne fungus and it can affect many different vegetables. The fungus can persist in the soil for many years, so crop rotation and selection of resistant varieties is crucial. Symptoms include: wilting during the hottest part of the day and recovering at night, yellowing and eventually browning between the leaf veins starting with the older, lower leaves and discoloration inside the stems. Verticillium Wilt inhibits the plants ability to take in water and nutrients and will eventually kill the plant. Verticillium wilt is more pronounced in cool weather. Management: Remove affected plants and choose resistant varieties. More info and photo from University of Florida Cooperative Extension

Re: Yellow leaves on tomato plants
 

It is because a sasquatch crapped near your tomatoes.

Re: Yellow leaves on tomato plants
 

When you planted them did you put 2/3 of the plant into the ground leaving only 1/3 to start growing above the dirt line? Maybe what is turning yellow should have been planted underground... (hope this makes sense)

Re: Yellow leaves on tomato plants
 

What kind/amount of fertalizer are you using? Leaf yellowing is frequently a sign of lack of nitrogen. The plant will drain the nitrogen from lower/older leaves to continue growing, if it doesn't get enough from the soil.

Re: Yellow leaves on tomato plants
 

I think lack of nitrogen too ... maybe over watering.

Re: Yellow leaves on tomato plants
 

Are these tomato plants determinate or indeterminate?

Re: Yellow leaves on tomato plants
 

Pick the yellow leaves off as soon as they appear. Make a pile of them and then remove them from the garden since it will spread. You never get rid of such things entirely but the number one "help" is to not water your tomato plants when they won't be able to dry off their leaves quickly. So if you HAVE to water them at night, only get the root area wet not the leaves. I prefer to water tomatoes and cucumbers and squash early in the day. Then the hot sun can dry them off.

Gregg

Re: Yellow leaves on tomato plants
 

I've had this problem before. I add some blood meal around the plants for the nitrogen and that stops the yellowing.

Re: Yellow leaves on tomato plants
 

you can also plant beans around the tomato plants. Beans will actually add nitrogen to the soil -- I have been told, and it seemed great last year when I tried it.

Re: Yellow leaves on tomato plants
 

Last time I planted ,,and will do again ,,I would plant corn and then beans , corn plant , bean plant ,etc.

The corn gave the bean plant something to grow on and the beans helped the corn with nitrogen..

The same could be done with the other vegs..

Tomato then beans around it ,,
Can't have too many beans !!!

And they help the soil ..

Re: Yellow leaves on tomato plants
 

If the leaves are just turning yellow, with no real wilt, more than likely you are watering them too much. cut the water back!!!