Why are tomato leaves often twisted? Have you ever wondered this? Today, we’ll reveal the real reason. It’s all their fault.
If you have a small vegetable garden or garden and you grow tomato plants, you will surely have noticed a curious phenomenon: leaf twisting . Why does this happen? Let’s find out together.
Tomatoes, how to grow them better
Tomato plants are among the most difficult to care for. It’s not enough to just water them properly , but also to fertilize them with the right nutrients. However, it’s not true that they only thrive in a vegetable garden or large garden. You can even grow them on your balcony and, if you follow a few suggestions, harvest their delicious, plump fruits.
Tomato plant on the balcony
It doesn’t matter whether you want to try growing tomatoes in the garden, on the balcony, or on the terrace. You should be aware of certain rules that, if not followed, will prevent your plant from growing and producing the best possible fruit.
Here is the manual you should always keep in mind :
the tomato plant lives on water: water it several times a day in summer and once a day, every day, in spring;
the tomato plant needs light to grow: expose it to the sun’s rays;
you should fertilize the tomato plant at least once every two weeks: this way it will grow and bear fruit very quickly;
You need to bury the tomato plant deeply: only in this way will the roots become strong and able to absorb all the necessary nutrients.
Now that you’ve learned these rules, all that’s left is to put them into practice and enjoy the results of your work. But first, we have another important point to address. Have you ever noticed that your beautiful tomato plants often have twisted leaves ? Why does this curious phenomenon occur? Here’s the real motivation.
Why Tomato Leaves Are Often Twisted – Motivation
If your tomato plant leaves are curling or twisting, there’s essentially one reason. It’s all their fault, the very dangerous white mite!
White mites on leaves
Have you ever heard of them? They’re a pest that can cause a lot of damage to your tomato plant . White mites are tiny, almost invisible to the naked eye, yet your plant suffers greatly from their presence.
They lay their eggs – also microscopic – on the underside of leaves. They avoid light and feed on the leaves of tomato plants, to which, by biting them, they transmit dangerous diseases and toxins . Only the latter cause the leaves to twist.
How to solve the problem? If you suspect an infestation, the best thing to do is apply a miticide to prevent the plant from dying. Then wash the leaves with a mixture of water and baking soda.
To do this, you need to add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to 300 ml of water at room temperature. Then pour the product into a nebulizer and spray the solution on the leaves .
Be sure to get rid of white mites and eggs by wiping the tomato leaves with a cotton ball soaked in the baking soda and water mixture . Your plant should recover within a few days.
However, there are also other reasons that could cause tomato leaves to curl . For example, unstable weather can cause this phenomenon. High temperatures and scorching heat are not friends of the tomato: the leaves dry out and twist as the plant tries to defend itself to avoid further water loss.
Herbicides can also cause tomato leaves to curl . We’re not necessarily talking about your own weedkillers (we trust your ecological conscience!), but also those used by a neighbor on their plants to get rid of pests and weeds.
Tomato plant with curly leaves
The wind moves them around your soil, hitting the tomatoes and making them sick. If you intervene abruptly by treating your plant with potassium and calcium supplements , you can save it.
And have you ever heard of the so-called tomato virus? It’s a disease that unfortunately doesn’t allow the plant to survive . It has nothing to do with the white mites we talked about above.
In this specific case, you will unfortunately see your plant quickly become ill . Not only will the leaves twist , but they will also begin to cover themselves with a white patina which will then spread to the stem as well.
The tomato virus is also dangerous for other plants . If this disease also affects your garden, there is only one solution to follow . Uproot the diseased plant and discard it : this virus can also be fatal for cucumber, eggplant, and zucchini plants.
This is why tomato leaves are often twisted . The reasons we have given you are the most dangerous for your plant. Take the best possible care of your tomatoes by following the suggestions we have given you first.