Tomato problems

[rhyswales]

Okay so came home this evening and seen that the leaves have started to curl downwards. I believe this is now a watering problem or could be with the soil? I used seed compost when I planted them and don't believe it's drainging out properly. Does that sound logical?

[Kristen]

How heavy does the pot feel? Perhaps even weigh it on the scales, and compare that against a similar sized pot filled with compost straight from the bag (which will be slightly moist, but not wet)

If the pot is heavy don't water it until it is light again

[rhyswales]

How heavy does the pot feel? Perhaps even weigh it on the scales, and compare that against a similar sized pot filled with compost straight from the bag (which will be slightly moist, but not wet)

If the pot is heavy don't water it until it is light again

They do feel quite heavy to be honest, just put them in a sunny windowsill to dry out a bit, I believe it's the compost, it's quite fine and grainy and don't seem to be draining very well.

[Jungle Jane]

I'm wondering if the top 40% of compost is too wet for the little delicate roots growing out the stem at this stage? Do you water from above or below? (I sit mine on a tray of water for 10mins every day,or every other day). You could try repotting into multiple purpose compost. Leaf curl can get a lot worse than that,so it's just a bit unhappy at the moment,it happened to mine when they got too cold/windy last year. Has it ever been repotted or was it sown into that pot?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Another thing to think on seed cutting compost is very low on nutrients

[libbyloulou]

Looks overwatered, iv'e got 6 different types of toms growing, all in 3 inch pots at the moment, i water every three days,but one strain in particular, all 5 of them, sulk when first watered, all the others are quite happy when watered.When repotting try and get some vermiculite involved.

[Kristen]

(I sit mine on a tray of water for 10mins every day,or every other day).

The plants in the photo look to be relatively small for the pot - e.g. newly planted into that pot, rather than at the other extreme of "close to needing potting on"

I'd be surprised if they need a 10 minute "dip" every other day as yet. Mine (at similar stage) get watered from above and just get a small dab of water each day. I feel the weight of the pots to decide if they need water or not, as the plants get bigger, relative to the pot, they will drink more (and weight of the pot will feel lighter more quickly - for sure, when the weight of the pot becomes light within the day - such that watering might be needed twice a day - its time to pot them on to a bigger size pot!)

[Jungle Jane]

Just wondered if it's ever been potted on because it's still in seed compost,which stays soaking wet rather than multiple purpose compost,which is more aerated/less compact. This plants unhappy & i think Rhys is right it's the compost being too wet. I mention watering from above for that reason,too wet on top. Also using seed compost & just putting a little bit in,how do you know how dry the compost is at the bottom of the pot. I started watering from below this year after reading tips on this forum,previous years I always watered on top but last year I had a problem with fungus gnats,they lay eggs on the top of wet compost,plants didn't suffer at all,they were just a pain.