tomato leaves curling

[laurad]

Hi all,

Last year, the leaves of all of my tomatoes started to curl up and gradually fade and die, and by the end of the season, every last plant looked awful, well just about dead really. Although they weren't. There were never any black/brown spots, so I assumed it couldn't be blight. It didn't stop them producing a bumper crop of wonderful tomatoes, so it wasn't a disaster - variety was Tigerella. This year, I am growing them in big pots rather than the poly-tunnel border and it's a different variety - Alicante. The leaf-curl is just starting again on a couple of plants. The leaves are a healthy green (at the moment), but all scrunched-up. I am feeding and watering as recommended for tomatoes in pots, and the rest of them are in blooming health at the moment. This also happened at my old home in my small greenhouse, so I assume it's a common problem. What is it? And will it eventually affect my crop if I don't stop it? Can I stop it? Thanks for your thoughts.

[DavidT]

Laurad, it sounds to me like Leaf Roll. This is not a normal thing in Tomatoes. As long as the leaves are still green then they are still healthy.

[Eddie Spud]

Good question Laurad

My Tomatoes are doing exactly the same. Two varieties in grow-bags in greenhouse.

According to Dr Hessayon leaf roll in tomatoes does not indicate disease.
In young leaves, provided they are dark green, this is taken as a good sign. In the older leaves it is possibly due to wide variations in day and night temperatures. Basically, if pests and disease are abscent there is no need to take any further action.

[tigerella]

Those Tigerellas are pesky

I agree with the above. Leaf roll is okay.

[itsme]

hi all
i have this leaf curl and its a very strong gripping curl i was wondering if its got anything to do with self climbing as i wound one around it's cane and its a perfect fit ,this is only happening on my italian toms costoluto genervase the others which are alicanti,gardeners delight ,sungold and a plum variety which was in my sandwich are fine

[laurad]

Hi all, thanks for that. My broadband has been down, hence the slow reply, but glad to read that I have nothing to worry about now that I am finally back. This is a great forum! The plants are still growing and the toms are swelling, so looking forward to the first bite

[Marko30]

just what i was looking for - my first season growing, so i didnt know if it was normal for the leaves to curl, at least all is ok.

[golden14]

My second season of tomatoes and this is also happening to mine, last year my plants flew up, heaving with fruit but lack of sunlight = very poor crop. hopefully more joy this time, glad the leaf curling thing wasn't just down to me.