Why are the leaves on my patio tomatoes turning yellow and drying up?
Question:I have a patio tomato plant that I've had for about 1-2 months now, and its been doing great -- lots of fruit that's growing well. The plant has always had a handful of yellow leaves at the bottom, which i understand is pretty normal. However, the past week or so the yellowing has spread further up the plant (bottom 1/3 ). The leaves are developing a mottled yellow pattern at the outermost leaves first and then moving further in towards the middle of the plant. Once they turn yellow they start to dry up. There are no brown spots. I have fertilized twice with an all purpose fertilizer 15-30-15. I usually let a little water sit in the draining plate underneath the planter -- am i overwatering? Not enough sun? They're in a window that gets indirect sun all day and direct sun from about 8-10am. Thanks!
Answers:
Yep, it does sound like they are being over watered. I too have potted tomato plants and learned this the hard way a couple years ago. Now I let them get dry at least two inches deep in the soil before watering. Also, the pot may be causing the soil to become really hot inside. Mine are in large plastic pots that are set inside wooden planters which shade the pots. Next year I'm going to try the hanging tomato planters where the plants hang down, some places call them upside down planters. Interesting!
Hard to tell exactly. My guess that the plants are 'root bound' or not in a big enough container for the roots to have 'elbow room'. No problem while plant was small; not it needs more room to grow. Careful not to over fertilize or that will kill it.
First thing is that it definitely needs more direct sun. It may be over watered because it is not getting enough sunlight to process the water it gets. Move it outdoors or into a window that gets at least 6 hours of direct sun. let the plant adjust to the extra sunlight slowly as the plant will get a sunburn. I would move it to get more and more sun over a few days to a weeks time. Also, check to see if the plant is root bound in the pot you are using. You didn't mention what size pot its in but I am thinking it may very well need a 5 gallon pot unless the plant is a miniature. Hope this helps.
over watering I would dig around it and put some black dirt around it
overwatering...and as the bottom leaves turn, snip them back to promote health into the stems above
I think too much water for the amount of sunlight.
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