One of my tomato plants looks "burned" like a part of it is dying. Any idea of what this could be?

Question

This is one of the Beefsteak tomato plants, I have two of them. They're very big, probably 4.75 to 5 feet. And the other day when i checked the garden, a small part of the plant looked dry and dead like autumn leaves. I took those leaves off. Then today, I noticed that another set of leaves on the plant looked yellow with black on it as if it had actually been burned. The other plant doesn't look like this aside from a few yellow leaves on the bottom. Any idea on what this could be from?

Answer 1

Could be neomotodes. They are things that eat the roots. Not much you can do now, but before you plant again, put down black plastic (like trash bags,for a while) then cedar chips when you plant.

Answer 2

If you are watering in the afternoon, this is probably your cause. Watering in the afternoon causes the sun to go directly  to the leaf, therefore scorching it. If you are not watering in the afternoon try to think if you have used fertilizer recently, and if you have it may have not been diluted enough causing leaf burn. If not, look on the bottom of the leaves, and check for tiny white insects or "chew marks". Also, if the plant begins to wilt, or is already wilting, you may be in the early stages of bacterial spot in which the laves turn yellow and fall off. If you feel this is the case use an organic 3in1 insecticidal soap/ bactericide such as Safer ( I suggested this to another asker earlier!), which is available at Lowe's or other garden centers. Good Luck, and hope your plants bounce back soon!

Answer 3

Donna is right. Sunburn. Get some shade cloth. You can make a stand over them with PVC then drape the cloth over. If you live in Southern California, right now temps.are 100 and above. Yes they do get sunburned and yes even if you water. Byee P.S. Thanks Sandy G. for the site!

Answer 4

Where do you live? Looks like it might be late blight.

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/VE...

That is also a sign of verticillium wilt but most plants these days are resistant.

Late blight is a Phytophthora, related to an algae so make sure that you don't water too much. let the plants dry out between watering's and that may get you by. No cure for Phytophthora's so you might want to plant in another area next year.

Answer 5

too much sun.the sun is burning your plant.

Answer 6

Where do you live? I'm from southwest Missouri and we've been getting tons and tons of rain and all my tomato plants are kinda yellow and look like they're dying. I know mine are like that because they've gotten way too much water. My entire garden is suffering because of too much water.

Answer 7

Tomato leaves don't get burned by the sun unless you are having regular temperatures over 100 and you are forgetting to water. It is more likely to be some sort of fungal disease or blight -- see the image below. the article also gives you advice about controlling the disease.