Often horticulturists have to face such a phenomenon in tomatoes as the twisting of leaves in a tube. Some inexperienced farmers are at a dead end, because it seems that every effort was made to normal the development of the plant, but it was not there. About the reasons and methods of struggle - further.
Causes, consequences, methods of struggle
The lack of zinc (Zn) leads to the appearance on the tomato leaves of gray-brown spots of various sizes, twisting the edges of the leaves to the top, gradually drying them and dying away. Then the newly formed leaves grow unnaturally small, often covered with speckles of yellow color.
The better to spray tomatoes in this case: knowledgeable gardeners use foliar top dressing tomato zinc sulfate solution (5 g per 10 liters of water).
Another reason is the lack of copper (Cu). In this case, the leaves become flaccid, curled inward, the tips turn white. All young leaves grow small, have a blue-green color. Shoots weaken, flowers - dumped.
Than sprinkle tomatoes if the leaves are twisted in this way: a solution of copper sulfate (1-2 g per 10 liters of water). An additional measure in the absence of copper is a piece of copper wire stuck next to a tomato bush.
Leaves can also curl if there is a lack of potassium (K) and boron (B). They curl upward, deform, melt, blush and eventually die off. In this case, the point of rotting also appears on the fruits themselves.
Methods to combat this phenomenon - a balanced diet, fertilizing (preferably by spraying) complex fertilizer or monophosphate (1 tsp per 10 liters of water).
How many times and at what time to sprinkle tomatoes?
Foliar top dressing with missing elements is much more effective than root ones. Direct application of solutions to the leaves accelerates the process of saturation of tomatoes - the result becomes visible after a few hours, while fertilizers introduced into the ground, give the result only after a few days, and even weeks.
With copper sulphate, tomatoes are sprayed around mid-June - this will prevent the negative effects of copper shortage. If twisting leaves can not be avoided, you need to process the plants as soon as they notice the problem. Repeat the procedure can be in each such case, making sure beforehand that twisting is not caused by other reasons.
Why else can the leaves of tomatoes curl:
- The roots of the plant are damaged. In the first days after transplantation, the leaves of the seedlings are often twisted, which is associated with a violation of the root system, its restoration and, as a result, inadequate nutrients. This phenomenon eventually passes by itself.
- Excessive or insufficient watering. Tomatoes are very sensitive to the level of soil moisture, it can negatively affect both waterlogging and lack of water. Determine the cause can be reliably obtained by looking at the leaves: if twisting occurs along the central vein, this indicates a lack of water. But do not rush to pour the plants - pour the soil, loosen it and cover up the garden .
- Incorrect pasynkovanie (pinching). Mass removal of the lower leaves after transplanting can become
cause of the phenomenon. Cut off the leaves can be no earlier than three weeks after planting tomatoes in a permanent place. And only two or three leaves per week are allowed to be cut off. - The temperature is too high. If the temperature in the greenhouse rises above + 35 ° C, the leaves begin to twist. In this case, frequent airing of plants and the creation of additional protection from the sun are recommended.
- Various diseases and pests also often lead to the curling of tomato leaves. In this case, it is important to correctly determine the cause and choose the appropriate methods of control.