Help - Droopy Tomato Leaves

[Elgrino]

Hi There,

We live in Brisbane Australia, where it should be staring to warm up as we head towards summer, however, we have had a week or so of rain and cold (relatively) conditions. Our tomato bush (pictured below) was doing fine up until this, however, it now has badly drooping leaves. The dish the pot sits in is dry so I am wondering if it just needs a good soak? It sits on a covered balcony so probably didn't get to much rain.

If anyone could suggest anything it would be appreciated.

Regards
Elgrino

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi and welcome to the vine.

Your tomato does indeed look like it needs a good drink. To check if it got any rain, stick your finger into the soil - if the soil is wet then it doesn't need watered. Tomatoes need a lot of water when they are in full growth.

[Tomatoking]

Hi Elgrino

Lift the pot to see if it is light or heavy, sometimes watering from just the dish below is not enough and the pot dries out.
If the compost seems relatively heavy then you might have a root problem, caused by the change in the weather and maybe the roots were too wet.

If it is just dry you will be OK, if it is a root problem you will have to keep the compost lightly moist only, and keep the plant away from direct sunlight so it dosent stress any more.

The plant does look a little 'leggy' due to not enough light, although it looks nice and sunny in the picture.

Mr TK

[Elgrino]

Hi Fellow Tomato growers,

Thanks for the advice. It would appear that it just needed a big drink. I gave it a good water, with some seaweed fertilizer mixed in, and it has bounced back nicely.
I'll stick to my watering regime of every evening and will give it more fertiliser in another 10 days or so.

Regards
Elgrino

[shirlthegirl43]

You shouldn't worry too much about feeding until the flowers are open and toms forming.

[taff]

how many plants have you got in that pot and what variety are they?

[Elgrino]

- We already have 20 or so Tomato fruits formed. May not have been clear from the photo. I'll attached a couple more photo's.

There are 8 Basil plants and one Tomato Truss Sweet plant (Lycopersicon esculentum F1 hybrid).


Regards
Elgrino

[shirlthegirl43]

Those are interesting looking toms you do realise that lots of us grapes are gonna be asking you if you can send seeds now

[taff]

ahhh, couldn't see the toms for the greens
keep the soil moist, and feed once or twice a week then
it may dry out quicker being on a balcony, if you get a lot of wind in there.

[Elgrino]

Thanks for all the advice. I'll send photo's once they have ripened.

Regards
Elgrino

[blito]

my sister in law lives in brisbane... she made me very jealous with her stories of her tomato plants surviving for several years of perpetual fruiting... less so with the stories about the spiders and snakes... not to mention the sharks in the upper brisbane river!
BTW - i hear we are due for our first autumn frost this weekend.. not long now before night time temps drop below zero again !!