Tomato issues - yellow leaves

[seedsman]

Hello all,

My tomato plants in the green house have leaves which are turning rather yellow (or already have) and look like they're about to die. They have plenty of sunlight and water - any ideas on how i can save them before they head off to the big tomato utopia in the sky. All seems a bit strange as they were perfectly healthy and well looked after, plus a few green small baby tomoato are popping out. They were planted about a month ago from seed.

Any help much appreciated.

Thanks,
n

[Lesley Jay]

Hello and welcome to our forum!

The most likely cause is magnesium deficiency. The leaves turn yellow but the green veins remain on the leaves. The treatment is epsom salts diluted with water used as either a feed or a foliar spray. You can buy epsom salts from the garden centres and the dilution will be on the pack.

Add a signature link to your heritage seed company (if you would like to).

[seedsman]

Thanks very much indeed for the help Lesley. Is there any chance it could be blight or are the symptoms different for this?

[Lesley Jay]

The symptoms for blight are brown / black patches on the leaves with brown / black areas on the stems, then the tomatoes get brown rotting patches on them. Blight cuts down a crop very quickly and you will certainly know if you get hit with blight. Are the leaf edges curled?

[Mopsy]

Sounds like magnesium deficiency to me too. Mine had this a few weeks ago and I got some Epsom Salts from my local chemist. You sprinkle between a teaspoon to a dessert spoon round the base of each plant, then water it in. Worked a treat & all the plants are looking green & healthy on the new growth. The leaves which are already yellowed may still die off, but don't worry as long as the new ones are coming through healthy.
To prevent the problem recurring you should regularly feed with something like Tomorite which contains some magnesium.

[Ava]

Hey I would like to suggest you that, to control leaf spots, improve air circulation in the garden, mulch, stake or cage vines, and remove and destroy infected leaves as soon as the symptoms start. Good Luck!!!!!

[juststartingtoms]

Originally Posted by Mopsy

Sounds like magnesium deficiency to me too. Mine had this a few weeks ago and I got some Epsom Salts from my local chemist. You sprinkle between a teaspoon to a dessert spoon round the base of each plant, then water it in. Worked a treat & all the plants are looking green & healthy on the new growth. The leaves which are already yellowed may still die off, but don't worry as long as the new ones are coming through healthy.
To prevent the problem recurring you should regularly feed with something like Tomorite which contains some magnesium.

Hey folks

I can see the start of this happening with my new baby plants, should i try the epsom salts? Could it be a problem from over watering? (excuse my stupidness, i'm new to this) Someone told me to only use Tomorite (which i have in the garage) when the plant starts flowering & mine are only babies, could someone help with this?

Thanks!

[MarkOlliethe2nd]

Just wanted to mention - As this thread helped me with my yellow leaves problem before I became a member.
Was so frustrated in searching for 'Epsom Salts' (or alternative high in magnesium products)

B&Q in Clacton-on-Sea
B&Q in Colchester
Homebase Clacton-on-Sea
Homebase in Colchester
and a private garden centre nr my town of Frinton-on-Sea
all did not sell or have in stock Epsom Salt. I asked sales assistants and all never heard of it, or it had not shown when they did a search of the stock on the computer.

In the end found it on ebay a 1kg box for £4.99 with FREE P&P wether this is cheap or expensive it solved the problem.
Thanks

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Mark, garden centres should sell epsom salts but they might have it listed as magnesium sulphate. Boots and most chemist shops will also sell it.

If you do an online search for Gardening Epsom Salts it brings up stockists including Amazon but you need to take the P&P into account. Free P&P at eBay makes that a good online price.

[MarkOlliethe2nd]

Originally Posted by Lesley Jay

Hi Mark, garden centres should sell epsom salts but they might have it listed as magnesium sulphate. Boots and most chemist shops will also sell it.
If you do an online search for Gardening Epsom Salts it brings up stockists including Amazon but you need to take the P&P into account. Free P&P at eBay makes that a good online price.

I know, my friend had to slap me when I asked if I could use my Magnesium Milk left over from last year!!!!

[PaulB]

Hi all, hope you do not mind me adding to this thread. I have the yellow leaf problem. I have increased the feed levels, have used epsom salts and the problem is still worsening. Any other suggestions would be very welcome. I have to leave my greenhouse open during the working day to prevent it becoming oven like when the sun comes out. Could variable temperature be the problem?

[bantiekeeper]

Agree with previous posts. However it may also help if you spray the greenhouse glass with Coolglass to prevent the heat from the sun drying out the leaves.

[airconednightmare]

do you have any pics of the problem?

[mor]

it can also be Beetle leafhoppers and Psyllids .

[golden14]

Really silly answer(?) but are you just overwatering them? Mine always go yellow when I water them too much. It maybe just something so silly as that. Before people shoot me down in flames, To test it why not halve the watering to one set of plants for a week and see if it makes a difference?