Knowledgebase
Tomato deficiencies #797181
Asked June 22, 2022, 8:07 AM EDT
Hi, can someone help me identify what my tomato plant is deficient in… I feel like it’s magnesium and phosphorus and maybe overwatering. These are older leaves on lower plant.
It shouldn’t be a lack of nitrogen since they are planted in composted horse, cow and rabbit manure with some compost and old soil.
I’ve added 4 pictures. Not sure if they attached since it’s giving me errors.
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
Only two photos went through:
551D7664-7EE4-4357-821E-75B90EEA5997 (1).jpeg
25077A1B-23EF-4104-B657-7E20B85628EF.jpeg
Feel free to send the other two.
Lower leaves of tomato plants will naturally turn yellow and die just a month or two after planting. It is possible that leaves are showing some nutrient problem. This is less likely if the newer growth appears healthy (full-size, deep green, and without any yellowing).
The large amount of organic matter added to the soil may provide sufficient nutrients through the growing season. Tomato plants have their greatest need for nitrogen when plants are fruiting. Fertilizing Vegetables web page.
Consider having your soil tested by a soil testing lab to get baseline information on soil pH, nutrients levels, and organic matter level. This can help guide future decisions on fertilizing and liming.
Jon
Hi! Sorry just coming back around to this…
honestly looking at my pictures again, even with the variety of manure, I have a thick layer of leaf much and I am wondering if it’s hindering uptake some how. They do look like a NPK deficiency overall with some magnesium issue.
Sorry I have the hardest time uploading pics via mobile.
Another pic
Another one… it won’t let me upload multiple.
Another
Thanks for sending more pics.
Yellowing between the veins of lower leaves is a symptom of magnesium deficiency, although magnesium levels are typically adequate or high in Howard Co. soils. A soil test would help pinpoint specific nutrient issues (link in first response).
The new photos show what might be disease lesions on leaves. We can also see a darkening of tomato stems in the upper right of the two photos that are 3.6MB in size. Are you seeing any wilting during the daytime? If so, that would suggest a root or stem disease blocking the vascular tissue. If any stems are wilting, you could remove them where they attach and cut through the uppermost layers of tissue to look for brown streaking. That would help confirm a root or stem disease.
Jon
Thank you for responding so quick Jon! Yes, I did notice a stem issue with 2 plants and subsequent wilting of new growth. I’ve cut most out but am noticing more. I’ll have to go back through the plants to see which ones are affected.
So am I dealing with more of a bacterial infection of sorts? Ugh… burn and toss and don’t compost?
Yes, wilting plants and all fallen plant parts should be removed and trashed.
There are a number of diseases that will cause wilting. If you are seeing multiple stem lesions the problem could be caused by several different diseases with these being the most likely:
Alternaria linariae / Alternaria alternata or
Tomato Pith Necrosis
Don't plant tomatoes for 2-3 years in this area.
Jon
Thank you! I’ll rotate them out of this raised bed and into another one.
Thank you! I’ll rotate them out of this raised bed and into another one.
If you would like to determine the specific disease that caused the issues you can contact the UMD Plant Diagnostic Laboratory. Forms and information on submitting a sample are on the website. You will probably be asked to send a few of the wilted stems with lesions wrapped in newspaper.
Jon
