Because curling is often a gradual process, the quicker you take corrective action, the better.
It usually starts with the lower leaves curling upwards, then rolling inwards lengthwise.
The leaves also become thick and leathery but typically remain green.
JJGouin / Getty Images
Regardless of your climate, alwayskeep tomato plants well-watered.
Once outdoors, tomato plants will need at least 1 inch of water each week from rainfall or watering.
Watering should be done slowly and deeply, so the plants form deep roots.
Roma tomato seedlingsBarbara Rich / Getty Images
Mulch around their base, so the soil stays evenly moist.
Low phosphorus might also lead to leaf curl.
Even though tomatoes are heavy feeders,fertilizationmust be balanced.
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Tip
Need a soil kit to determine your nutrient content?
Call your local Extension Office, which advises on agriculture, pest control, and gardening.
Once the herbicide drift has occurred, there is nothing to be done.
The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham
If this is the case, you will, unfortunately, have to pull the plants and re-plant.
Cows and horses feed on that hay and then pass it on via the manure.
To prevent this, ensure to get manure or compost only from reliable sources that dont use these herbicides.
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Or, get manure from sources that use chicken manure, which does not have the problem.
The additional symptoms vary in each virus, and the transmission method differs.
New leaves become cupped and turn pale green.
Let the soil warm, before you spread mulch around your tomato plants.Photo: © Marie Iannotti.
The leaf edges turn yellow, and the undersides of the leaves may turn purplish.
The plant’s entire growth is stunted, and fruit production is poor.
Tomato mosaic virus is transmitted from seed, grafting, human handling, and tobacco products.
Tomato spotted wilt virus is one of the many viruses that causes leaf curlMiyuki Satake / Getty Images
The virus is a concern throughout the growing season.
Remove plants and bag them for disposal at the end of the growing season.
Consider rotating crops the next growing season.
Matt Meadows / Getty Images
Broad mites may come from infested greenhouse plants, so buy only plants from reliable suppliers.
you could use a sulfur-based miticide to combat a moderate broad mite infestation.
If the damage is severe, pull up the plants and dispose of them.
Pay close attention to your tomato plants' environmental conditions, like the temperature and moisture.
Avoid using herbicides near your plants and treat insect issues immediately.
Removing curling tomato leaves is usually not necessary.
Some leaves will uncurl as the health of the plant improves.
If the plant is infested with disease or insects, discard it to prevent the spread of the problem.
Keep an eye on the plant, follow the care recommendations, and conditions may improve.
Both under-wateringandover-watering can cause tomato leaves to curl.
Tomato Leaves Rolling?Clemson University Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center.
What Makes Tomato Leaves Twist or Curl?Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
Mississippi State University Extension.
Herbicide Damage on Vegetables.
University of Maryland Extension.
Herbicide Residues In Manure, Compost, Or Hay.University of Florida Extension Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus.
Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Victoria State Government.
4, 2021, pp.
330336, 2021. doi:10.1093/ee/nvaa168
Broadmite Damage on Tomatoes.
Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
Zuchi, Sabrinaet al.The Interplay between Sulfur and Iron Nutrition in Tomato.Plant physiology,vol.
2624-39, 2015. doi:10.1104/pp.15.00995
Tomato Diseases and Disorders.
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center.
