Tomato plant dying - Ask Extension
What is wrong with my tomato plant? It’s turning yellow with these small black marks on leaves and blossoms dry up as soon as they appear.
Knowledgebase
Tomato plant dying #879096
Asked July 28, 2024, 10:55 AM EDT
What is wrong with my tomato plant? It’s turning yellow with these small black marks on leaves and blossoms dry up as soon as they appear.
Linn County Oregon
Expert Response
Dear Sue,
Tomatoes are heavy nitrogen feeders. The soil needs to be prepared for them. Depending on what you amended your soil with, it could have been used up by now.
Add some fish emulsion, follow the directions. This is a liquid mixture and will enter the plant faster than dry fertilizer. Buy a good tomato fertilizer (dry) and add that as well. The leaves that are already yellow will not turn green but new growth will be green. Your soil could be deficient in magnesium, iron, zinc or phosphorous.
Remove all weeds and/or other plants around the tomato plant. Water the soil, not the plant. If you have not already, put in a soaker hose or a drip irrigation line. Overhead water causes fungus to grow.
You should also mulch around the plant with straw, leaves, compost, or dried grass. Mulch will keep the soil moister longer and the roots cooler in this hot weather.
I am adding some publications for your review: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/12281/growingtomatoes0.pdf
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/ec-1333-grow-your-own-tomatoes-tomatillos
If you have further questions, please contact us again.
Tomatoes are heavy nitrogen feeders. The soil needs to be prepared for them. Depending on what you amended your soil with, it could have been used up by now.
Add some fish emulsion, follow the directions. This is a liquid mixture and will enter the plant faster than dry fertilizer. Buy a good tomato fertilizer (dry) and add that as well. The leaves that are already yellow will not turn green but new growth will be green. Your soil could be deficient in magnesium, iron, zinc or phosphorous.
Remove all weeds and/or other plants around the tomato plant. Water the soil, not the plant. If you have not already, put in a soaker hose or a drip irrigation line. Overhead water causes fungus to grow.
You should also mulch around the plant with straw, leaves, compost, or dried grass. Mulch will keep the soil moister longer and the roots cooler in this hot weather.
I am adding some publications for your review: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/12281/growingtomatoes0.pdf
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/ec-1333-grow-your-own-tomatoes-tomatillos
If you have further questions, please contact us again.
