Tomato Seedlings: Distorted Leaves and Aborted Growing Tips
Wednesday, 22 April 2009 18:59
Tomato seedlings are for the most part, easy to grow, but every so often a problem will arise. Distorted leaves and aborted growing tips can often be explained away with evidence of herbicide use in or nearby a greenhouse or a virus originating from the seed. In this case excess fertilizing is more likely the cause.
The problem developed in a growers greenhouse affecting 90% of the crop. The tomato seedlings were in 12 inch patio pots, 3 plants in each pot. A soil test was completed on the soilless mix and the results indicated soluble salt levels of 3.04 mS/cm, an ammonium nitrogen level of 46 ppm and a sodium level of 101.2 ppm.
Tomatoes in general can tolerate high salts and high ammonium levels but tomato seedling 3 to 4 weeks old can be damaged. Leaching the soil with clear water and changing the fertilizer to a higher nitrate form is the recommendation but the plants will need to be watched to see if the new growth will return to normal.
Photo: Tomato Seedling with Symptoms
Paul Lopes, University of Massachusetts
