Tomato Leaf Curl
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I have one tomato variety, an heirloom known as Mountain Pride, that produces some really nice tomatoes that are crack resistant, disease resistant, and determinate so this is one variety that works well for container gardening.
I noticed it was the only variety in my vast array of tomato varieties that was showing what appeared to be tomato leaf curl.
This is NOT a cause for alarm fortunately. It is known as Tomato Leaf Roll. The older leaves start to curl upwards, almost folding inside themselves. The leaf curl or roll is caused by unfavorable environmental conditions.
Large portions of the plant may be affected, but it does not significantly affect fruit yields or plant growth.
Mountain Pride is apparently one of the varieties that has a specific gene favoring this condition, so it seems to follow varieties of a specific genetic composition.
These leaf curl or leaf roll symptoms can be caused by heavy rain and prolonged wet soil, high temperatures, and even drought.
So attempting to control it should not be a major concern, unless of course the symptons are being caused by Tobacco Mosaic Virus.
Control methods include well drained soil and sufficient watering of plants during drought conditions.
I attribute the leaf curl or roll on my Mountain Pride heirloom tomato to a 10 day period recently of heavy rains and no sun.
So, make sure you have well drained soil, water your plants as needed depending on weather and your climatic area, and if you are concerned about this condition, simply choose tomato varieties without this genetic makeup.
Happy Gardening!
~the Ranchers Daughter
theranchersdaughter.com
