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Kenna718
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Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2014 10:29 pm
Location: Washington, DC

Should I be worried about these leaves?

Hi, I am growing a black cherry tomato plant in an 11gal self watering container with potting mix and plastic black mulch cover. I got a pretty mature seedling from the framers market. I recently added some dolomite lime and 8-5-5 fertilizer. It's been decently warm, but when it gets below 42 or so, I bring it inside at night.

The leave at the bottom of the plant are a little sad though. Should I be worried? The top of the plant seems happy, but the branches at the bottom have leaves that are curling around the edges or are a little spotty It seems to be growing and has produced new flowers since I got it. Photos show the best and the worst of the plant.

Should I be worried? Any ideas on if I need to change something?
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Top of the plant seems happy and healthy. New flowers.
Top of the plant seems happy and healthy. New flowers.
Fruit seems to be growing!
Fruit seems to be growing!
A little sad around the edges toward the base of the plant
A little sad around the edges toward the base of the plant
A little spotty
A little spotty
Shriveled leave (this little branch actually fell off)
Shriveled leave (this little branch actually fell off)
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rainbowgardener
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It's normal for the aging leaves at the bottom to die off. Your plant looks healthy. I would cut all the bottom leaves off so that nothing is touching the soil. Helps keep it from getting diseases.
Kenna718
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Location: Washington, DC

I am very paranoid about this tomato plant, so that is good to hear! Thank you!
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PunkRotten
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As the plants gets larger you want to have about a foot of clearance under it. For plants grown in pots I usually don't remove a foot because my plants tend to be on the smaller side. So they need as many leaves/branches to photosynthesize as much as possible. As RBG said, remove leaves from then bottom so none touch the soil.
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gixxerific
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You will be fine do as Rainbowgardener said and cut off the bottom or stressed leaves. It ls Black Cherry anyway's that will outgrow any problems.
mach1cj
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PunkRotten wrote:As the plants gets larger you want to have about a foot of clearance under it. For plants grown in pots I usually don't remove a foot because my plants tend to be on the smaller side. So they need as many leaves/branches to photosynthesize as much as possible. As RBG said, remove leaves from then bottom so none touch the soil.
my bottom leafs don't look to hot either, should I be cutting the leafs off or the whole stem a foot up from the ground?
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PunkRotten
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Just the leaves unless they are small unimportant stems. If it is a major stem/trunk, especially one with fruit/flowers don't cut it.


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