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What's wrong with my Tomato plants?

I've got couple of young tomato plants from bunnings. Planted in ground around 2 to 3 weeks ago with little fertilizer, blood and bone. Applied seasol once a week so far.

Couple of branches are not greenish, looks yellow and I think some bug attack.

Melbourne weather is not great in the last week or so, to think about sunny. Any ideas and suggestions please ?

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Jason

Hi @ppp,

Let me tag some of our keen gardeners in @Grub80, @Noelle, @timjeffries, @bergs and @robchin who might like to share their thoughts on your tomato plants.

I take it you haven't found any critters on your plants?

Jason

ppp

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/6766#Comment_6766

Thank you Jason for your care & time.

I did not find any critters. But I will have a thorough look and update if anything.

Noelle

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/65557#Comment_65557

Hi ppp

I take it from the photos that the "damaged" leaves are on the base of the plant, close to the soil? If so, what you are seeing is not uncommon - the lower leaves tend to yellow and die off as the plant increases in height and produces lots of lush new growth higher up. Usually nipping these lower leaves off is appropriate especially if marked or yellowing. I wouldn't be too concerned at present seeing the rest of the plant looks healthy enough.

robchin

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/65557#Comment_65557

Hi PPP.
I love growing Tomatoes. One of the questions I always ask is - do my problems really matter? If I have a few holes in the leaves (where some insect has had a feed) and a few yellow leaves - does it really matter?
Yellow leaves like that are normally the sign of a nutrient problem. Looks like it's only on the older leaves though so unless it's all over I wouldn't be worried about it.
If you have them in full sun and you keep the fertiliser up to them - these little problems won't cause you long term stress.
Final bits of advice: Don't water the foliage - water the soil to prevent humidity and leaf problems and companion planting is good - try planting some Marigolds or other insect antagonistic plants in the same area.

ppp

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/95543#Comment_95543

Thank you both Noelle and Robchin for your suggestions. I've learned something new now.
Relaxed and hoping for great sunny weather 🙂 :):)

ppp

This one was healthy and looks good a month ago. But recently all leaves started becoming yellowish and dropping off. Only 15% of the plant leaves healthy, looking green. It has not produced even a single full ripe tomato yet. All the existing tomatoes are under some kind of bug attack.

Even I faced this issue last year and posted here :

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/t5/Garden/What-s-wrong-with-my-Tomato-plants/m-p/33441

I think there is definitely something wrong with soil or fertilizer. Can anyone please guide me ?

WhatsApp Image 2021-01-27 at 2.17.05 PM (1).jpeg

JaneK

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/11866#Comment_11866

Hi @ppp

Tomato plants are outside of my field of expertise. But we are lucky to have the wisdom of great gardeners in our community. All advice gratefully received from @Grub80, @Noelle, @timjeffries, @bergs and @robchin who might like to share their thoughts on your tomato plants.

Are you able to describe the bug that's attacking your plant? Or share a photo?

Here's hoping we can get to the bottom of this mystery.

Jane

Noelle

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/11866#Comment_11866

Hi @ppp

This is a different situation to last year, when the lower leaves were yellowing.

My guess this year is that the soil in the pot is getting very hot during the day and that is affecting the roots. If the roots are unhappy then the top growth and fruits will suffer. If you want to grow tomatoes in pots, make sure they are BIG pots with lots of potting mix in them - the more mix, the greater the mass and the longer it will take to heat up in the sun. The other option is to grow them direct in the soil where the roots will also be much cooler.

I don't think the problem is nutrition or bug related - there is some bug damage but as @robchin said last time, the damage isn't important if the plants are otherwise healthy and you are picking tomatoes.

Bigger pots and placing them where the plants themselves get good light but the pots and potting mix are shaded during the hottest part of the day will probably make a big difference. Tomato plants don't have to be in full sun to do really well - they just need plenty of light.

Also, use a fertiliser with a boosted level of the trace element calcium to help prevent diseases like blossom end rot. In combination with cool roots, plenty of water and bigger pots, I think you will get much better results.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/68359#Comment_68359

Great assistance as always @Noelle.

@ppp: If you decide to repot your tomatoes, Noelle shared some great advice about how-to here - https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/t5/Garden/Re-potting-tomatoes/m-p/57308

Jason

VegaNano

Big mistake You NEVER FERTILISE new seedlings,maybe about 8-12 weeks old.You seemed to have 1/2 killed them with Too Much Love,& seasol is very strong- maybe dilute it more-- than instructs says😁

jemmade

Hi,

This is the first year that I've ever planted a veggie garden, and while it's mostly going pretty well, my tomatoes seem to be fading.

I planted a mini Roma variety which has gone nuts, and 5 of the same bush tomato variety, all purchased from Bunnings. Initially they were doing really well and I've been very diligent with watering, but I got lax on the feeding and haven't fed them for around 6 weeks or so. Over the past week the leaves on all 6 plants are withering and changing colour. The Roma has been producing a lot and still is, but the others haven't produced a huge amount.

Could this be a deficiency of some kind, maybe magnesium? I put Seasol on them a few days ago but I'm guessing I need to use something else? Or is it too late? I have 6 other cherry tomato plants that popped up on their own nearby that don't seem to be having the same issue.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/46080#Comment_46080

Hello @jemmade

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your tomatoes.

It sounds like your tomatoes are experiencing some nutrient deficiencies and possibly stress from inconsistent feeding, but don’t worry—it’s likely not too late to help them bounce back! Since your mini-Roma and bush tomato plants are showing signs of withering and discoloured leaves, they probably need a good boost of nutrients, especially considering the heavy fruiting of the Roma variety.

To address this, start by feeding your plants with a well-balanced fertilizer specifically for tomatoes and vegetables, like PowerFeed Tomato & Vegetable Liquid Fertiliser, available at the store. This product contains the essential nutrients your plants need, including nitrogen for leaf health, phosphorus for root and fruit development, and potassium for overall plant vigour. Apply it according to the instructions, ensuring you water it in well.

For the potential magnesium deficiency, you mentioned (often visible as yellowing between the veins of older leaves), you can supplement with Epsom salts. Dissolve a tablespoon of Epsom salts in a watering can and apply it to the base of your plants. Alternatively, products like Yates Thrive Tomato & Veggie Natural Booster may also contain trace elements like magnesium and can be applied to cover all nutrient bases.

It’s also worth checking your watering practices. While you’ve been diligent, overwatering can sometimes cause root stress, leading to similar symptoms. Ensure the soil is moist but not soggy and avoid wetting the foliage, especially in humid weather, to prevent fungal issues. Mulching with sugarcane mulch or pea straw, which you can find at Bunnings, will help regulate soil moisture and reduce stress on your plants.

Your cherry tomatoes nearby are likely thriving because they’re more resilient and may have tapped into nutrient-rich soil. With regular feeding and care, your bush tomatoes should recover, and you can continue enjoying a productive veggie garden.

Keep up the great work, and don’t forget to feed every two to four weeks during the growing season for consistent results!

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

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