Plum tomato plant leaves curling

[Alastair]

Help!!

For the second year in a row I am having problems with my plum tomatoes. Having just set their first truss the leaves are starting to curl up. I can't see any mould, spots or any other obvious signs of any problems. In fact they look quite healthy apart from the leaves. They are being grown in a greenhouse, in ring culture pots and two to a grow bag. We had some very warm days recently, while I was on holiday. Although I have an auto window vent and left the door open, the temperature went up to the mid thirties, and I assume that this has caused the problem. Also the directions that came with my ring culture pots have gone. Can anyone tell me the correct frequency for watering please?? Many thanks, Alastair

[sewer rat]

Help!!

For the second year in a row I am having problems with my plum tomatoes. Having just set their first truss the leaves are starting to curl up. I can't see any mould, spots or any other obvious signs of any problems. In fact they look quite healthy apart from the leaves. They are being grown in a greenhouse, in ring culture pots and two to a grow bag. We had some very warm days recently, while I was on holiday. Although I have an auto window vent and left the door open, the temperature went up to the mid thirties, and I assume that this has caused the problem. Also the directions that came with my ring culture pots have gone. Can anyone tell me the correct frequency for watering please?? Many thanks, Alastair

Don't worry about leaf curl, it's quite common, especially after the first truss has set. So long as the plant is healthy there is nothing to fret about.
As regards watering, little and often is the name of the game - I water my toms three times a day - just don't let them dry out as this causes problems with splitting skins.

[tweety]

I water my toms three times a day.

hi,

how much water do you give each time ? I have read they are very thirsty plants but I would not have though that thirsty...

thanks

[sewer rat]

When I plant them in the tunnel, I sink the 3" pot that they were in beside them - this is what I water them through. The pot gets filled three times a day and the water goes straight down to the roots. In addition, it stops the stem getting wet which could lead to rot. I also feed through the pots.
I do the same with my cukes.

[tweety]

When I plant them in the tunnel, I sink the 3" pot that they were in beside them - this is what I water them through. The pot gets filled three times a day and the water goes straight down to the roots. In addition, it stops the stem getting wet which could lead to rot. I also feed through the pots.
I do the same with my cukes.

Thanks for the reply...
my guess is that I give about the same amount on water but not spread during the day. I try to water morning and night but some says I only managed once. but my plants are all in containers, so maybe I give too much... but they don't seem to be "complaining" ;-)

[Mac]

Hi all, how often do you feed your tomatoes as opposed to watering them? I've got a gardeners delight, a tumbling tom and an alacante all flowering at the moment and am not sure what I should be doing (first year growing!)

[j r hilton]

Hi Mac,
I feed once a week with tomato feed mixed as per instructions on the bottle and have always had good crops.

[BumbleB]

I am confused about watering. I thought if you watered as much as 3 x day it would spoil the flavour. I am only watering 1 every 2 days or daily if hot. Is this too little?

[SMS6]

I am confused about watering. I thought if you watered as much as 3 x day it would spoil the flavour. I am only watering 1 every 2 days or daily if hot. Is this too little?

Me too Bumble - I couldn't possibly water 3 times a day and thought every other day or 2 or 3 times weekly was enough? With a weekly feed.

Do I need to retire from my day job for tomato season?

[SarzWix]

Tomato plants in a greenhouse/tunnel, especially in pots, when fruiting will need water more often than every couple of days. Infrequent watering leads to blossom end rot, and the splitting of tomato skins.