What am I doing wrong here???



Plenty of sun, watered daily, not bugs eating at it, and still it has leaves yellowing and it always has this drying withering look???

It's in a pot full of potting soil that I added some perlite and tomato plant food both Miracle Grow branded. What am I doing wrong???

Looks like yellowing that accompanies poor drainage. Holes in pot to drain water?

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SOS USA

I'm sure no expert, since all of mine have already died, but I read that a tomato plant needs a lot of room for the roots to spread. The article said that the roots can extend over six feet from the plant. Unless it's a container specific variety, you might consider transplanting it to a ground location.

Many plants will drop leaves when they are repotted or their light is changed. The yellowing is on the bottom leaves, the first leaves to grow, and they might be dropping off in a normal way.
Before you water it, stick your finger down an inch in to the soil. If the soil is damp, it doesn't need watering. When you do water it, make sure you soak it well, not just a sip.
Be careful with plant foods, as they are chemicals and too much can burn the plant. Either too many feedings, or a mix that is too potent. New potting soil shouldn't need much in the way of fertilizer for a while. Tomatoes love full sunlight, so the more you can give it, the better it'll be. I also think the pot may be a bit small for it.

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Geoff. Since 1960.

Too small of a pot. Yellow/brown from over water/no drainage fungus.

Get bigger container. Use Miracle grow dirt or something like that and don't feed it anything for 6 weeks. Use fungicide when you see fungus and cut off affected leaves. Use calcium to prevent bottom end rot.

Planted May 2nd.... (small pots are peppers)


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June 30....


Today (I've harvested about 30 tomato so far and will probably get a couple hundred)


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Four going around the bottom.

I'm at a loss since years ago I had six of them in pots until the pots walked away one night...

It's in pretty full sun out in front of the house. I soak it daily until water drains out the bottom. I didn't add much and the food is the type that slowly dissolves. But you are right, it shouldn't have needed it just yet. That is a bigger pot than I used to keep them in. It's 18x18. My old pots were the terra cotta 12x12's. Maybe this one is plastic???

Well fudge. That's two for too small a pot. Will just get a much bigger one then. And I want cherry tomatoes again. Those can have small pots, right?

I just use cheap plastic storage containers from Staples and drill some holes in the bottom.

I have used smaller containers for Roma tomatoes but you gotta water em two or more times a day when they get big and it's hot. These Roma got about 6 foot tall and produced a gazillion....



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My father asked my mother once about growing tomatoes. She told him they will continue to grow at the A&P unless you wish to take up gardening.

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SOS USA

And that my friend is pretty darn funny...lmao....thanks for the chuckle!

Cheers;
Lefty

Test your soil for nitrogen levels. Lack of nitrogen in the soil will cause yellowing.

I ain't never tried to grow tomatoes in pots but I do know they have large root systems. This year I started late and they tomato plants I got were pretty sickly looking. I just made my rows then put miracle grow potting soil down the middle and planted my stuff. They looked bad for a month or so then perked up and everything in the garden is outstanding. I'm gonna guess that yer pot is a bit small, but it could be the nitrogen levels too as one post stated.
Good luck with your plants,
Gordon

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better have that checked

Looks like a patio tomato to me. They are compact by design. Sometimes lower branches do turn yellow, especially if it got dry. I'd hit it with 1/2 strength miracle grow for a couple days straight to beef up your foliage.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

What a pathetic tomato plant, from now on your forum name is "Minimumbob54".

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Fidelis Ad Mortem

You're waterlogged in a small pot with no drainage. The nitrates (which are mobile) are leaving the lower leaves to sustain growth in other parts of the plant.

Re-pot with good drainage, and apply a PH balanced (5.7-6.2) nutrient solution .... a 20-20-20 NPK would work well.

It's too hot in Florida this time of year to grow maters. Even though you are farther North than I am, the season ended a month ago.

In addition,container size, what variety of plant, what brand/kind of potting soil etc, etc.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I would guess they became diseased at some point and will no longer be productive. Could be tobacco mosaic (do you smoke on the back porch). Are the leaves/stems brittle to the touch?
Ed

Have you tried talking to them?
Maybe they just need love and some counseling.

Peace baby

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In dog years I'm dead.

I don't smoke, it does have drainage, I'm going to either drop it into the groud or get a much larger pot, and until I get back to under 200 lbs then there is nothing "Minimumbob" about me... I've lost twenty pounds and have a looong way to go still...

And I say, "hello mr. tomato plant" every time I water him. My guns are all "her" since I fondle them, but mr. tomato is a him since I don't fondle the leaves.

HS508/VH028: Tomatoes In The Florida Garden

SP 103/VH021: Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide

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Still Running Against the Wind

One thing to note, too much or too concentrated plant food will "burn it up" too.

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Lost it all in a boat accident