What to do when tomato leaves curl

Growing tomatoes is not difficult if you approach it responsibly. But sometimes even experienced gardeners make mistakes, and the harvest is not as rich as expected. In order for tomatoes in the beds to please the eye, you need to pay attention not only to the growing process, but also to combat external factors that can negatively affect the harvest.

If the plant begins to wither, it is necessary to identify the cause as soon as possible. In this article, we will take a closer look at what to do when the leaves are curled on tomatoes.

Why leaves curl

There may be several reasons why leaves are curled in tomatoes. They depend both on improper care and on the influence of external factors.

Among them are the following factors:

• lack of moisture;
• excess watering;
• damage to the plant by pests;
• high air temperature;
• mistakes in pinning;
• disruption of the plant nutrition process due to fertilizer imbalance.

The reasons why the leaves of tomatoes curl in open ground or in a greenhouse, a lot. Let's consider each separately.

Lack of moisture

Experienced gardeners begin to water the tomatoes only when the tips of the leaves begin to drop slightly. So the plant itself suggests that it lacks water in the stem and leaves.

If you skip this moment and do not water the tomato bush, the plant will begin to curl the leaves. It does this to reduce the surface area of ​​the sheet from which evaporation occurs. If this situation develops during the flowering of a tomato, then flowers may fall from a lack of water.

How to fix the situation: water the bush in several approaches at the rate of 3-5 liters per plant for one watering. After that, you need to ensure regular soil moisture.

Attention! Do not flood the plants. Both shortages and excess of water can harm the crop.

Too much watering

From an excess of water, leaves can also curl up. If tomatoes grow in greenhouse, then you can fight twisting by stopping watering, as well as using regular ventilation, which helps to quickly lower the moisture level.

If an excess of water is observed in the open ground and is associated with rains, the situation can be corrected by making a film roof over the bed. It will protect the ground under the tomatoes from excess water. Good results are obtained by loosening the soil, which helps to dry it faster.

High air temperature

In hot weather, especially in direct sunlight, tomato leaves also curl. This is how they protect themselves. When the heat subsides, they spin back up.

How to help plants:

• in the greenhouse - airing;
• in an open garden - shading. You can cover the tomato bush with agrofibre or spunbond (special material).

Nutritional disruption due to fertilizers

Most often, gardeners overfeed tomatoes with nitrogen fertilizers. If the soil where the tomatoes grow is supplied with too much manure, the top leaves may curl into a ring. The solution to the problem will be the elimination of nitrogen in the dressing.

But a disturbance in plant nutrition can also be observed when the bushes are not fertilized. The reason for curling the leaves can be a lack of trace elements. The tips of the leaves may dry out.

Usually, in such cases, tomatoes are not enough:

• phosphorus. At the same time, the leaves curl up from the stem at an acute angle and can change color (acquire a purple tint);
• potassium. Then the leaves curl upward and curl.

To replenish the supply of trace elements, wood ash is used. Top dressing do by mixing 1 liter of ash and 10 liters of water. For a better return of nutrients, it is recommended to boil the ash solution. The average consumption of broth is 1 liter per bush.

Attention! Tomatoes are fed with a completely cooled solution.

Ash can also be used dry. It is poured directly onto the ground under the root of the plant. Ash consumption - 0.3-0.5 cups per bush.

Incorrect pinning

Tomato growers often do pinching to tomato bushes - remove the processes in the axils between the trunk and leaves of the tomato plant. This is believed to conserve plant nutrients and improve crop quality.

It is worth remembering that after unsuccessful pinching, tomato leaves may begin to fade and wrap their edges. This happens if many stepsons are removed at one time, especially large ones. Withering is associated with severe stress experienced by the plant. Sometimes tomatoes even shed flowers after the wrong procedure.

To help the plant, foliar feeding can be done. Tomatoes respond well to boron treatment. To get it, dilute 0.5 teaspoon of boric acid in 10 liters of water. After the plant is abundantly irrigated from a spray bottle.

Caution! Boric acid crystals are best dissolved in hot water. In the cold, they will not dissolve, and burns may appear on the tomato leaves.

Insect pests

Tomatoes can be affected pests, from which the leaves begin to turn yellow or curl upward.

The most common insects that harm tomatoes:

• whitefly. Flying small midge with white wings. It is found if the plant is shaken (takes off when it is disturbed), as well as when viewed (whitefly larvae stick to the leaves, leaving a sticky bloom on the surface);
• aphid. The favorite delicacy of aphids is young tender leaves. The pest sucks the sap of the plant from the leaves;
• ticks. For example, rusty. It harms not only the leaves, but can also penetrate the trunk and fruits. The leaves begin to curl, often rusty or brown cracks appear on them.

How to treat tomatoes for leaf curling

How to treat upward curling of leaves in tomatoes if the cause is pest infestation?

To treat tomato bushes from pests, do:

• garlic solution. Take 1 liter of water and 150-200 g of chopped garlic. Withstand 5 days. This is how a garlic concentrate is obtained. To process tomato bushes, dilute 1-2 tablespoons of the concentrate per 1 liter of water. Then the leaves of the plants are sprayed abundantly;
• wormwood tincture. The concentrate is prepared by infusing 500-650 g of wormwood in 5 liters of boiling water for 2-3 days. To irrigate the bushes, mix 9 liters of water and 1 liter of concentrate;
• tobacco tincture. Chopped tobacco (about 200 g) is poured with boiling water (5 l) and infused for 1-2 days. The solution is sprayed on the bushes (you can add 100 g of laundry soap).

Attention! Experienced tomato growers advise repeating the treatment after 3-5 days.

What to do for prevention

The best defense against pests is prevention. Before planting tomatoes, it is recommended to thoroughly dig up the earth and pour it with boiling water or a solution of copper sulfate (dosage - according to the instructions on the package).

Try to grow varieties and hybrids of tomatoes that are resistant to pest infestation.

Important! Follow the rules of crop rotation, and do not grow tomatoes for many years in the same place. It is advisable that 3-4 years pass before you return the tomatoes to the same garden.

Conclusion

There are many reasons for curling leaves on tomatoes. There is both an overabundance of watering and a lack of it. The state of the leaves is affected by the lack of trace elements and the excessive amount of fertilizers. Insect pests also contribute. It is important to correctly recognize the cause and correct the situation.Then tomatoes will surely delight you with a good harvest.