Curling tomato plant leaves indicate too much water: Ask OSU Extension (2024)

Associated Press

Curling leaves on a tomato plant may indicate it's getting too much water.

The leaves on my tomato plants are curling upward, yet there is no discoloration. What is the problem?

The problem your tomato plants are experiencing is most likely not a disease, but a temporary physiological disorder. Basically it is the plant's reaction to too much water. It is more common during wet springs. You could be applying too much water, the soil might be poorly drained, or there could be a combination of the two factors.

Within a few days of the soil drying out a bit, the leaves should uncurl. At that point, begin to monitor how much water you apply to the soil. Allow the top one to two inches to dry before applying more water. After the growing season, you can deal with improving the drainage, if that is a compounding factor. Additionally, some tomato varieties are more susceptible to tomato leaf roll than others. Consider growing other cultivars. My bean plants are being eaten up by two different insects. One looks like a ladybug (dull orange with black spots) and the other is yellow with fine spines. What can I do to control these pests without using dangerous insecticides?

Thanks for the excellent description. Your bean leaves are being eaten by Mexican bean beetles. You have described the yellow larval form of the beetle as well as the adults. Both larvae and adults feed on the leaf tissue between the veins. Bean production can be seriously reduced as a result of heavy infestations.

Handpicking of the beetles and larvae is an ancient method of control. Crushing the yellow eggs on the underside of leaves also is recommended. The spined soldier bug eats the larvae of the Mexican bean beetle, and the tiny wasp Pediobius foveolatus is a parasite of the larvae. Both may be purchased, although they occur naturally.

Neem is a biological pesticide that is effective against the Mexican bean beetle and safe to use on beans. Neem oil is extracted from a tropical tree. Heat and drought also provide control of this pest.

I purchased a bag of potting soil and it has some kind of filler that is beige and somewhat crinkled. What is it? Why do they include this in potting soil?

The potting soil you purchased may have been amended with vermiculite. Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral that is very similar to mica. It is expanded and added to soil to improve the soil's aeration and water-holding capacity. It is lightweight, sterile and safe to use. If a potting mix does not contain vermiculite, I add it.

Call a Master Gardener for gardening advice: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at 216-429-8235. Gardening information is also available at cuyahoga.osu.edu and webgarden.osu.edu. Write Master Gardeners at mgdiagnostics_cuya@ag.osu.edu.