On tomatoes in a greenhouse, leaves turn yellow and dry: how to save the harvest

The foliage on the transplanted tomato seedlings in the greenhouse begins to turn yellow and gradually dries up — the situation requires immediate action. Plants can be exposed to fungal diseases or pest attacks - in this case, contact preparations will need to be used. Being able to recognize a problem and knowing how to solve it is the only way to save the harvest of tasty and juicy tomatoes.

Why do tomato leaves turn yellow and dry?

Firstly, wilting is possible with an untimely transplant of bushes. Overgrown seedlings it will hurt longer when transferred to a greenhouse and will require a lot of time and effort to restore the vital activity of plants. Such bushes are lagging behind in development, the yield of vegetables on weakened tomatoes will be low.

The root system of the overgrown seedlings fills the entire volume of the glass, the rhizome begins to gradually rot, which is why leaves start to turn yellow.

Important
The maximum period for growing seedlings before moving to a polycarbonate greenhouse is 50-60 days.

Secondly, when transplanting, it is quite easy to damage the root system of seedlings. Such plants grow poorly and develop due to insufficient nutrition, young leaves dry and die off. The first symptom of such damage is yellowing and gradual death of the lower leaves of tomatoes.

Third, foliage will suffer if broken watering rules... Tomatoes are not very demanding on this factor. Adult bushes need to be watered once a week. Excessive watering leads to fungal diseases and plant pests. Tomatoes need balanced, regular hydration at different stages of their development.

Fourthly, it will be difficult for tomatoes in unfavorable temperature conditions. The foliage turns yellow and dies - perhaps the reason is overheating and insufficient ventilation in the greenhouse.

Important
The temperature in the greenhouse should be maintained in the range of 16-30 °. A change of several degrees in one direction or another is unacceptable - this will cause a lag in growth and loss of yield.

Fifth, the composition of the soil strongly affects the well-being of plantings. The land should be rich in mineral fertilizers, light in structure. On such a soil, plants develop rapidly, the level of productivity increases.

Sixth, the plants are probably affected by pests or fungal diseases. In this case, only treatment with contact insecticides or fungicides will help. The industry releases new drugs every season, so we recommend that you contact a specialized store for consultation with an experienced manager.

For novice gardeners, we present operations that will help planting for all of the listed reasons for tomato malaise.

What to do so that the leaves do not turn yellow

First, it is necessary to determine the reason for the drying of the foliage on tomatoes and only then proceed with the implementation of agrotechnical measures.

If the landing time is not met

Overgrown seedlings will need to be fed with a nutrient solution rather:

• in 10 liters of warm water, you need to dissolve 100 g of complex fertilizer;
• water the rhizome of each seedling with a ready-made composition.

Such a simple operation will allow the plant to calmly survive the transplant, but the harvest time will move by 10-15 days - this is due to the lag of overgrown seedlings from healthy plants.

If the roots of seedlings are damaged

It is necessary to remember the basic rule: before removing from a temporary container, it is necessary to water the soil in it. Then the sprouts will be easy to remove without damaging the root system.

If the seedlings are still damaged, experienced gardeners recommend watering it with a solution of any complex fertilizer or a special Kornevin product. The operation will help the sprouts quickly adapt to new conditions and grow new roots, which will provide the plant with sufficient nutrition.

In case of violation of watering rules

There are several rules for watering tomatoes that will prevent the leaves from turning yellow:

1. In the first weeks of seedling growth, the seedlings are moistened every day in small portions.
2. Only warm water is used for irrigation, and it is better also settled water.
3. The jet is directed under the bush. It is unacceptable for moisture to get on the stems and foliage, especially in direct sunlight. Otherwise, watering will cause the leaves to burn and dry.
4. The best way to humidify any plant is with a drip irrigation system that delivers water and fertilizer directly to the roots.
5. The soil should be moist, but not soggy. Wet soil, especially if this phenomenon is constant, will certainly cause fungal diseases.
6. Adult, flowering bushes require infrequent but abundant watering. Fruiting tomatoes should be watered no more than 1 time per week.
7. The optimal time for hydration is early morning or late evening.

In case of violation of the temperature regime and poor ventilation

During the hot season, it will be necessary to increase the number of waterings and possibly shade the sunny side of the greenhouse. To do this, it is enough to cover the roof and wall with a simple garden whitewash. The procedure will protect plants from direct sunlight and disinfect the structure from fungi.

Another effective way to combat high temperatures is to place containers with water in the greenhouse. This simple operation will help reduce the temperature in the greenhouse by a few degrees. Ventilation vents should provide free passage of air along all horizons and allow cool air to blow over the plants along the entire length.

With the wrong soil composition

It is imperative to add sand and peat to the garden soil. These ingredients are mixed in equal proportions with the turf soil and then evenly distributed over the garden bed. The top must be covered with a layer of mulch - it will retain moisture in the soil and will not allow a hard crust to form. Such care will allow air and food to pass freely to the roots of the plant.

Table: how a plant signals an excess or lack of minerals in the soil

With a disease

Yellowing of tomatoes and drying of foliage often occurs due to damage to seedlings by a number of diseases:

1. Tobacco mosaic. Symptoms are chaotic yellowing of several parts of the leaf, the gaps between them are painted in a normal color. It is necessary to pay attention to the state of young foliage, the first symptoms appear on them.
2. Spotted wilting of tomatoes. The symptoms of the disease are specks on old foliage, especially orange or yellow. With the development of the disease, the foliage withers, turns yellow, the plant lags behind in development.
3. Fusarium. When damaged, the upper shoots and foliage of the bush turn yellow and wither. Light streaks and pale yellowed leaves along the edges are the first symptoms of the disease.
4. Alternaria. The plant turns yellow completely, the development of the disease comes from the bottom. In conditions of high humidity, the sporulation process becomes noticeable on the foliage. In a greenhouse after such a disease, soil replacement and complete disinfection of the structure are required.

Contact fungicides are used to treat diseases. The dosage is indicated on the packaging of the preparations, it must be observed. To disinfect the soil before planting, it is recommended to treat it with a strong solution of potassium permanganate or other copper-containing preparations.

When damaged by pests

Let's single out several insects, the impact of which causes yellowing of the leaves and their drying:

• aphids cause death of garden plants and trees. You will have to fight not only with insect colonies, but also with lovers of sweet milk - ants;
• whitefly live in large groups. The larvae eat up the entire green mass of the bush;
• a spider mite affects the lower layer of foliage and is capable of destroying tomatoes within 10-15 days.

You can learn more about pest control measures in a separate article. Note that it is easier to prevent their appearance than to remove parasites. For prevention, it is necessary to follow the rules for watering and airing the greenhouse. In the process of treatment, this is equally important, in addition, it is required to immediately start treating plants with insecticides. A simple solution of laundry or tar soap will help early on. Another important point is the obligatory digging of the earth before winter - so you can destroy insect larvae and fungal spores.

Leaves turn yellow for a variety of reasons, but in any case, weak plants are the main provoking factor. It is important to carefully follow the rules of agricultural technology, monitor the balance of moisture and feeding, take care of air access and a comfortable temperature. If the cause is parasites or infection, treatment should be started immediately. With due attention, planting tomatoes will surely delight you with a good harvest and juicy healthy fruits.