Tomato Plant Problem

[SoyBean]

My tomato plant is producing tomatoes now. The only problem is the leaves on the lower part of the plant, closer to the soil, are turning yellow and some are dying. I water every other day since it gets dry here. The water is just tap water. Anything I can do? I don't want the plant to die. I'm doing so well this time around with growing plants.

 

[silkiechicken]

Are you sure it is a water problem? Are th top green leaves shriveling between waterings? If not, could be a mineral balance problem or something else.

Best of luck.

 

[SoyBean]

All of my plants were shriveled a few days ago because their soil dried out. I almost have to water once a day to once every other day because its so dry here all the time. I'll take a picture tomorrow morning and upload it so you can see what I'm talking about.

 

[patandchickens]

All of my plants were shriveled a few days ago because their soil dried out. I almost have to water once a day to once every other day because its so dry here all the time. I'll take a picture tomorrow morning and upload it so you can see what I'm talking about.

So there ya go, that's your yellowed lower leaves for you

Try not to let them actually wilt in future, but you know what, tomatoes are pretty robust critters and I do not think you've harmed them enough to put too serious a dent in your harvest.

Now that they're setting fruit, you need to be especially careful to maintain even moisture, or you'll get blossom-end rot which still leaves you most of the tomato to eat but is unsightly and a bit ucky in some cases.

Next year (it won't help you this year, unless of course you've done it already in which case just ignore the following) try planting them neck-deep when you transplant them out into the garden. Pull off the cotyledon leaves and possibly even the lowest set of true leaves depending on the plant's size, and set it that deep in the ground. It will root all along the buried stem, and have a better water uptake system for the whole rest of the summer. Of course you still have to make sure it doesn't dry out Working lots of organics into the soil over the winter will help that.

P.S. do you have a thick mulch? You should. If it's organic, make sure to water through or under the mulch (you don't want the mulch sopping up all the water!); if it's cardboard, paper or plastic, make sure the water is not just puddling on top or running off.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[Tutter]

I agree with Pat on the water, and method to plant.

Keep us posted on how they are doing!

 

[OaklandCityFarmer]

Soybean, these also are planted in containers right?

You have to really careful about not letting them dry out. Try putting a try underneath the pot to have a water reservoir. Also, you can bury a soda/water bottle into the soil with a bunch of holes in it and keep it filled with water.

The newspaper method that Pat mentioned is good to use with containers too. I usually poke small holes with a nail in my newspaper just to make sure water gets through effectively.