A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Food Garden Forum The Tomato Forum Tomato Plant Pictures - can you help?

Hi, Big Jim here:

I did some browsing, but I could not find anything similar. Two plants, probably different issues...

What is wrong with this guy? Painful looking.



I feel this plant may have a similar problem. Don't the leaves look a little gray? They grew to about 18 inches in height and then just stopped on a dime. The lower branches are yellowing and falling off.




Thanks for taking a look. I always appreciate your help.

Big Jim

could it be that the season is simply runnig out for them? more than half of my mater plants are dead now.

Hi Cricket.

Actually, the season is just getting started. I live in Tampa, FL.

Thanks though! :)

Oh, I see.
well, are they in the ground? do they have enough good soil to keep them nurished.(did I spell that right?)

the puplish leaves may be a nitrogen problem. Too little.

I have them in some decent-sized pots. If it is a nitrogen problem, I would be saddened as I used soil I purchased as "vegetable growing" soil from the local hardware store.

decent-sized pots...???? at least a 5 gallon bucket? are you letting them dry out for the most part between waterings?
tomatoe plants are very heavy feeders, but I would think 'vegetable growing' soil would be ok as long as they had enough of that soil to grow in.

Hi cricket,

I don't think they are 5 gallon buckets. You think that is the problem? They might be two gallon pots at best. I do my best to let them dry out, but I don't protect them from rain.

So I am in need of humongous pots you think? Thanks for the advice.

Big Jim

The first picture:

Looks like there is phosphorus deficiency; you probably need bone meal, rock phosphate, or super phosphate applied close to the [tomato] roots. Follow label instructions.

maybe the soil is too cold, too dry, the roots can't absorb nutrients/micro-nutrients from the soil.

Check soil pH, ideal range is 5.5 to 6.8

Tomatoes grow best in pots at least 16 inches deep and 20 inches wide. They have extensive root system.

Thanks papito! Looks like I might need a slightly bigger pot. :)

Shocked about the phosphorus deficiency being that I just bought the soil, but I guess soil can't always be perfect, even when it is packaged up in nice pretty bags for us.

Thanks again!

Hi Big Jim,



Is there guaranteed analysis on the bag of soil? Sometimes, even when nutrients are present in the soil, some factors affects their ability to become available to the roots. As mentioned above, when the soil is too cold, or too dry. Water [in moist soil] and heat [temperature] helps in dissolving the nutrients allowing the roots to absorb dissolved nutrients, then travel upward to the leaves through the plants vascular system. If the soil is too soggy the excess water clogs the plant's vascular system preventing the nutrients to travel from the roots to the leaves.