For people who want to grow more food with less work. š± This is my weekly newsletter loved by 38,000+ subscribersāhere's what one of them had to say: "These are not the regular run-of-the-mill garden-based emails. You actually touch on more unusual tidbits that encourage me to keep growing and learning."
why's that tomato leaf curling?
|
I love growing tomatoes in summer, but at the same time... I feel like these plants really keep me on my toes all season! If they aren't complaining about the weather (first it's too cold, then it's too hot), they're pouting in the garden by rolling up their leaves or drooping or making you guess at what other problem they're having. Right?! Here's something I see occasionally in my own tomatoes and what I've found is pretty common with tomato plants in other people's gardens: the leaf curl. It starts innocently enough but may eventually take over your whole plant. Sometimes the leaves stay green, sometimes they start twisting or acting weird. You're not sure whether to fertilize more, water more, water less, or reach for that neem oil. I've got you, friend: In my new post, I've rounded up the most common reasons tomato plants curl up their leaves and what you can do about it. (It's usually a simple fix!) āSo if you're seeing this happening, head to that post now.ā Seasonal tipsDon't skip this step when starting seeds indoorsA newsletter reader recently asked me what I consider my #1 tip when starting seeds for fall. She's been having trouble with her cool-season seedlings not germinating, bolting too early, or just dying altogether. Besides the basics (like having good seeds, good soil, light, and water), I think the most underrated piece of equipment that people tend to skip is a FAN. (This only applies to seeds started indoors.) I would guess that most people don't use a fan in their setup, but I run mine constantly on seedlings started in my garage. The whirring action helps build stronger stems, simulates the breezes seedlings will eventually face when they move outside, and maximizes air flow so you're less likely to get damping off disease. But also: It's still pretty hot this time of year, and running a fan on your fall seedlings can help keep them cooler. My garage can get into the 80s Fahrenheit during the day, but having a fan on keeps the ambient temp around my seed trays close to 75Ā°F (which fall crops like spinach, lettuce, and cabbage prefer). It doesn't have to be a fancy fan, and mine is a simple, inexpensive model that clips onto the shelf of my seed rack. (This is the exact one I've been using for a few years.) I've got 3 of these for my shelves. A small fan like this can make all the difference between weak, vulnerable seedlings and strong, resilient ones! P.S. If your tomato leaves are curling up and you can't figure out why, here are the most common causes + easy ways to fix the issue. |
Garden Betty
For people who want to grow more food with less work. š± This is my weekly newsletter loved by 38,000+ subscribersāhere's what one of them had to say: "These are not the regular run-of-the-mill garden-based emails. You actually touch on more unusual tidbits that encourage me to keep growing and learning."