How can I keep the leaves of tomato plant from turning yellow/brown?

My tomato plants are spindly and the lower leaves are yellow and brown! Maybe get only one tomato per plant. Just not worth it? Help

  5 answers
  • Linda Sikut Linda Sikut on Jul 09, 2019

    Hi Claudia,

    It could be a nitrogen deficiency. Get a soil testing kit to find out. Here's an article with other problems that happen with tomato plants so you can be aware. Wishing you the best.

    https://pallensmith.com/2015/04/23/nine-common-tomato-problems/

  • Em Em on Jul 09, 2019

    The most common reason for tall, spindly tomato plants is a lack of sun. Tomato plants require a minimum of six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day. If they receive less light, the vines begin to stretch for the light, causing them to elongate. Without adequate light to manufacture food, the plants quickly develop weak stems and vines. These plants are also referred to as "leggy." If your tomato plants receive less than eight hours of direct sunlight a day, their spindly vines are likely due to a lack of light.

    Remedying spindly tomato plants is easiest when they are still in the seedling stage, before you transplant them to the garden. Moving them to more light, providing them with a source of nitrogen and giving them room to grow is the first step. Pinching out the center leaves on the stems with your fingers forces new growth to appear along them stem and temporarily stops upward growth. This encourages dense foliage and stocky stems. Tomatoes plants in the garden may be more difficult to remedy, especially if the cause of their spindly vines is a lack of light. Removing any structures near the garden that cast a shadow on your plants and pruning bushes and trees that are blocking the light may bring relief. Applying nitrogen fertilizer and pinching back the plants works on tomato plants in the garden, as well as seedlings.

    Linda is correct that a lack of nitrogen can be a problem.

    Magnesium deficiency is also a consideration. Drenching with Epsom salt improves the overall health of tomato plants by giving them a good dose of magnesium. If your tomato plants need a boost, mix and dissolve about one or two tablespoons of Epsom salt in a gallon of warm water. Use this combo to give them a boost when you water.

  • Rymea Rymea on Jul 09, 2019

    Try Espoma Tomato-Tone every two weeks.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jul 09, 2019

    Hello there, Find a sunny light area to grow your plants using fresh compost or a growbag. That should do the trick

  • Try fertilizing with nitrogen.