Tomato Plants Speckled leaf

Posts

• BobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

  July 2018

  That's one of the fungal leaf spots.  Most fungal problems with tomatoes can be minimized by keeping water off of the foliage, especially overnight, so try and water only in the early morning.  Good ventilation also helps.  As those look like the oldest and lowest leaves, they can be removed without really affecting the crop and I would do that before spores can be spread to the rest of the leaves.

  I get a bit of this every year and would say it's the least damaging of the leaf spots.
  

  A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  

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• GardenGrower11 Posts: 312

  July 2018

  @yorkiethornton is it just the lower leaves, or also higher up the plant?
  
  In terms of biology it's called 'chlorosis' or 'interveinal chlorosis'.
  
  Some people are quick to assume it's a magnesium deficiency and start banging on about Epsom salt, but there are actually many possibilities.
  
  Could be too much of some nutrients, as well as too little, or an imbalance between some of the required nutrients. Or over watering, or under watering. Or the wrong pH of the soil/compost. Even lots of hard tap water, rather than lower-pH rain water, could be contributing. Or any use of pesticides/herbicides.
  
  Do you think any of those might be possible contributing factors?
  

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• yorkiethornton Posts: 100

  July 2018

  Chris 11 said:

  @yorkiethornton is it just the lower leaves, or also higher up the plant?
  
  In terms of biology it's called 'chlorosis' or 'interveinal chlorosis'.
  
  Some people are quick to assume it's a magnesium deficiency and start banging on about Epsom salt, but there are actually many possibilities.
  
  Could be too much of some nutrients, as well as too little, or an imbalance between some of the required nutrients. Or over watering, or under watering. Or the wrong pH of the soil/compost. Even lots of hard tap water, rather than lower-pH rain water, could be contributing. Or any use of pesticides/herbicides.
  
  Do you think any of those might be possible contributing factors?
  

  Could be some. It’s just the lower leaves for now. Watered regularly with tap water (soft) though not daily but not left to dry out. Been fed every 2 weeks with a good feed product. No idea about the ph stuff!! 

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• Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

  July 2018

  You've got them in grow bags which don't hold a lot of compost and you're only feeding every 2 weeks. The're very hungry plants and it's likely they're starving between feedings which weakens them allowing possible infections.
  I'd suggest feeding at least every 7 days with a tomato feed.
  The leaves above are no longer of benefit to your plant, so for whatever the reason, they're best removed and not composted - just in case

  
  Billericay - Essex
  
  Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
  Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

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• GardenGrower11 Posts: 312

  July 2018

  Ok, it's a good sign it's only the lower leaves.
  
  If the plants look otherwise healthy, I'd suggest removing the lowest leaves, at least some of those that are below the first fruit truss.
  
  Probably once a fortnight feed is not enough. Try increasing to weekly and hopefully the higher leaves will stay healthy looking.
  
  A good tomato feed will have the right balance of NPK as well as some trace Magnesium.
  

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• yorkiethornton Posts: 100

  July 2018

  Chris 11 said:

  Ok, it's a good sign it's only the lower leaves.
  
  If the plants look otherwise healthy, I'd suggest removing the lowest leaves, at least some of those that are below the first fruit truss.
  
  Probably once a fortnight feed is not enough. Try increasing to weekly and hopefully the higher leaves will stay healthy looking.
  
  A good tomato feed will have the right balance of NPK as well as some trace Magnesium.
  

  Cheers, that’s great 👍

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