Why do tomatoes shed their leaves?
Tomatoes shed their leaves for a variety of reasons, environmental stress is a common cause, both excess and deficiency of water can lead to leaf fall, as can extreme temperatures. Too high or too low shocks the plant, which results in, among other things, loss of leaves.
Diseases and pests are another group of causes of leaf fall. they can weaken the plant and cause yellowing, wilting and then leaf fall. The presence of pests such as aphids, spider mites and whiteflies also negatively affects the condition of the leaves, leading to their damage and premature fall. Regular monitoring of plants for symptoms of diseases and pests is crucial for quick response.
Nutrient deficiencies in the soil may also result in leaf shedding, especially the lack of nitrogen, potassium, magnesium or phosphorus has a significant impact on the health of leaves, nitrogen is responsible for the vigorous growth of green mass, its deficiency causes yellowing and falling of older leaves, potassium strengthens the plant’s immunity, and its lack is manifested by browning of the leaf edges and their curling, magnesium deficiency is characterized by yellowing between the leaf veins, while the lack of phosphorus inhibits growth and causes purple discoloration on the underside leaves. Importantly, too much fertilizer can have a similar effect. In the case of tomatoes, over-fertilization with nitrogen often occurs.
Natural fertilizer for tomatoes. It will support fruiting
If nitrogen is a problem, refrain from using further doses of fertilizers. Tomatoes should be watered only with water for 3/4 of the day. After this time, you can introduce fertilization with nutrients rich in phosphorus and potassium. Banana peel nutrient is perfect for fertilizing tomatoes. They are a real treasure for tomatoes. They contain large amounts of phosphorus, calcium and potassium. These three ingredients are needed by plants for proper growth and fruiting. They participate in synthesis processes and improve the taste of fruit. All you need to do is bury the banana skins in the ground near the tomato seedlings. These will release all the nutrients into the soil. You can also prepare nutrient for watering plants from banana peels. Prepare about 500 g of banana peels. This is about 5 bananas. Put them in a pot and pour 5 liters of warm water. Set aside for at least one day. After this time, the plant food is ready. Water your tomatoes with it once a week. Do it in the early morning or evening, when the sun is less intense.
Growing tomatoes on the plot. What do you need to remember?
- Choose a sunny location with fertile and permeable soil
- Prepare the seedlings at the appropriate time or purchase ready-made seedlings
- Plant the seedlings in the ground after the frosts have subsided, maintaining appropriate spacing
- Water your tomatoes regularly, avoiding wetting the leaves
- Fertilize plants during the growing season using multi-component fertilizers
- Manage tomato bushes by removing side shoots (twigs) in the case of tall varieties
- Support tall tomato varieties with poles or strings
- Check your plants regularly for diseases and pests and act as needed
- Collect ripe fruits systematically, which stimulates the plant to continue bearing fruit
How to recognize nitrogen over-fertilization? Characteristic symptoms
Excess nitrogen, although initially it may give the illusion of a healthy and strong plant, is one of the most common mistakes when growing tomatoes. The first and most visible signal is intense, unnaturally dark green color of the leaves and disproportionately thick, fleshy stems. The plant invests all its energy in the production of green mass, which takes place at the expense of flowering and fruit set. As a result, despite its impressive appearance, the bush has few flowers, and those that do appear often fall off.
Another effect is a significant weakening of the immunity of tomatoes. Lush but limp shoots and thin leaf blades become more susceptible to mechanical damage and attacks of fungal diseases such as gray mold. Plants over-fertilized with nitrogen also have a worse resistance to spring frosts and are more exposed to pests. Even if they manage to set fruit, they will often be soft, less colored and unsuitable for long-term storage.
Excess potassium, phosphorus and soil salinity – what should worry you?
Although over-fertilization with potassium and phosphorus is less common, it also has negative consequences. Too much potassium may make it difficult for the plant to absorb magnesium and calcium. It manifests itself marbled, yellow discoloration on the leavesand in extreme cases leads to fruit deformation and symptoms of dry top rot. Excess phosphorus, in turn, inhibits the development of the root system, which becomes short and poorly branched.
Soil salinity, caused by the accumulation of excess mineral salts, is also a serious problem. A characteristic symptom is the so-called physiological drought – the plant wilts during the day, even though the soil is moist. This happens because damaged roots are unable to absorb water. Another signal visible on the earth’s surface may be a white, crystalline coating, which is crystallized mineral salts.
Flushing, or how to effectively rinse excess fertilizers from the soil
When you diagnose the symptoms of over-fertilization, the first rescue step is a treatment called flushing, i.e. intensive rinsing of the substrate. It involves watering the plant abundantly with clean water with a neutral pH to rinse excess mineral salts from the root zone. In the case of crops in the ground, it is recommended to use about 20 liters of water per square meterrepeating the action even 2-3 times at daily intervals. Water must be able to drain freely, so it is crucial to avoid water ponding.
After flushing, the plant should be given time to regenerate. It is necessary to stop any fertilization for at least two weeks. During this period, water the tomatoes only with water and observe whether new, healthy growths appear. Only when the plant’s condition improves significantly, you can carefully return to feeding, using doses half the amount recommended by the manufacturer.
