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Tomato leaves curling #878307

Asked July 22, 2024, 4:01 PM EDT

My tomato leaves are curling on plants in one section of my garden. Plants are from various greenhouses. I had the problem last summer. I am finding jimson weed in the garden. Dec 2022 we had a new drainfield put in. 35+ years of top soil was lost when the area was finished. I had screened topsoil brought in, April 2023. Summer 2023 I found jimson weed/thornapple. I removed plants as I found them. This summer I am having the same issues in one area. Questions: something toxic to tomatoes in the soil - causing leaf curl? The jimson weed? Puzzling is I don't find it in the whole garden area that is over the drainfield. A good layer of the really sandy soil was left on the drainfield (at least 3 feet)and approx 3 feet of topsoil was spread on top. Would the usual soil testing detect anything other than mineral deficiencies?

Ottawa County Michigan

Expert Response

Thank you for your question. Usually twisted leaves/growth are symptoms of herbicide drift damage from a certain class of herbicides (Group 4). Tomatoes are sensitive to exposure to herbicides from this class. Products from this class are commonly used for broadleaf weed control in turf, some of which can persist in the soil (see this link Persistent Herbicides FAQPersistent Herbicides (compostingcouncil.org)). 

The topsoil you brought in may be contaminated with a persistent Group 4 herbicide. Does the company you purchased it from test for herbicide residues? There are commercial labs available that test soil for pesticides - see this MSU article for more info and list of testing labs: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/testing-for-contaminants-in-soil-water-and-plants. The standard MSU soil test is for nutrients and would not detect presence of herbicides.

I suppose you might consider herbicide drift as a potential cause as well. Do you live near any farm fields that spray herbicides on their crops?

If it is herbicide damage, there is not much you can do besides let the plant try and grow out of it and make sure it is not stressed in other ways (nutrients, water, light). Removing an established tomato plant to try and replant it in fresh soil would be problematic at this point.
This article from Oregon State has more information on herbicide residues in soil. 

While jimsonweed is toxic to humans and animals, I do not think it is doing anything to cause these symptoms in the tomato plants.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 26, 2024, 2:13 PM EDT

Thank you. I will check w6the source of my top soil. Last year was one thing but 2 years in a row.....
And the puzzling thing is...it is about a quarter of the garden area and he brought in all the top soil at the same time and spread it around.
Not a herbicide drift because there's a perennial bed between the lawn and veggies and the perennials were not affected. No nearby farms.
I will pursue the soil testing...especially after the time and $ and work to rebuild the garden area after the major disruption of a new drainfield. 
Thank you!
mjb


On Fri, Jul 26, 2024, 2:13 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied July 26, 2024, 2:37 PM EDT

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