Browning tomato seedling leaves – Toronto Master Gardeners (2024)

FAQs

Browning tomato seedling leaves – Toronto Master Gardeners? ›

Ensure that your plants are well watered. Avoid any fertilizer for the first week or two outside. You can proceed with this approach with your plants. Hopefully, they will have enough unharmed leaves or leaf area to continue to photosynthesize and produce food for your plants.

If you find a crispy, brown edge developing around the leaves, you likely need to water your plants more. To correctly water your tomatoes, water at the root of the plant. Tomato roots run deep, so making sure they're receiving adequate water goes a long way in keeping them happy.

You should normally see true leaves appear on tomato germinants/seedlings somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-14 day after sprouting, so you're definitely behind schedule.

Tomatoes need a lot of water to produce juicy fruits. If there is not enough water in the soil due to high temperatures and/or too much sun, the leaves will curl in an attempt to retain water and survive. Plants in pots are the most vulnerable to underwatering because they typically dry out faster.

When seedlings seem to be taking forever to grow, it is usually due to low temperatures or inadequate nutrition. Over-watering: Many growers harm their tomato plants by over-watering. Soggy soil may cause your tomato seeds to rot.

Browning leaves are typically caused by under watering, sunburn, or overwatering. If the leaf tips are turning brown and crunchy, the soil likely became too dry for too long in between waterings. This can also cause the plant to drop leaves.

One sign of overwatered tomato plants is drooping stems and foliage. Wilting occurs when the soil holds more moisture than the roots can take up but it can also mean the soil is too dry and the plants need water.

Water correctly: Do not overwater. The first week tomato plants are in the ground, they need water every day, but back off watering after the first week, slowly weaning the plants down to 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week.

Leaves that look more like true tomato leaves will begin to form after about two weeks. About two weeks after germination, true leaves will start to form.

Look for a fertilizer that has a high middle number, which represents phosphorus, in the N-P-K analysis. Commonly available fertilizer analysis that are great for tomato seedlings include 8-32-16 and 12-24-12. Mix the fertilizer with water according to package directions.

Will too much fertilizer make tomato leaves curl? ›

You can manage environmental stress by avoiding excessive fertilization, especially nitrogen. Once the plant has matured, it doesn't need nitrogen, and fertilizers containing nitrogen used when the plant is producing fruit may cause curling leaves.

Lack of Water.

Tomato plants require approximately 1 inch of water per week. Plants may wilt badly when soils are dry, but will revive rapidly when they are watered. A thorough watering once a week during hot, dry weather should be sufficient.

Add Movement. When seedlings are 3-4 inches tall, place a fan nearby to gently move air around your seedlings. The idea is to mimic wind, which helps the plants develop strong stems. The daily air movement also works to keep soil fungal problems at bay.

While underwatered foliage will be dry and crispy, overwatered tomato plants will usually have soft and mushy leaves or stems. The issue lies in root health.

Pruning tomatoes encourages strong growth and fruit yield. Removing dead or diseased leaves and branches will also assist in lessening the likelihood of pests or illnesses that might harm your crop. Along with trimming, be sure to water, feed, and weed-free your crops.

Water correctly: Do not overwater. The first week tomato plants are in the ground, they need water every day, but back off watering after the first week, slowly weaning the plants down to 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week.