Leaf Curling on Vegetables and Fruits
Leaf curling on vegetables such as tomatoes and paper plants is a very common problem. Lots of gardeners complain about leaf curling problems on tomatoes. I have been gardening for almost 10 years, and I also struggled with this leaf curling problem. Today, I will show you why your tomato plants’ leaves are getting curly. So let’s get into it.
Watering
If you are overwatering your plants or underwatering, or if your tomato plant is facing heavy rain, they might respond by curling their leaves. This is also known as a physiological response. If this is a physiological response, there is nothing to worry about. Your productivity won’t be affected by that.
Hot Weather
Hot weather is also a common reason why your tomato plant’s leaves are getting curly. It is actually also a physiological response. Tomato leaves are naturally flat and straight. In summer, if tomato leaves get curly, many people think that it is a disease or something, but it is not. Tomatoes are native to mountain regions of Central and South America. They did not adapt to grow in full sun; they are technically used to cooler weather. But we plant them in summer, hot against their wishes. Plant leaves are technically like solar panels; their job is to collect solar energy, and the plant takes that solar energy. When a shift happens in the summer, and the UV index becomes too strong and the days become too long, tomato leaves take more than they can handle. They are actually adapted to the shaded forest and can’t handle full sun. As a result, the leaves turn curly.
Pests
Pests can sometimes be a real pain for tomato plants. Pest infestation can also be the reason why your plant leaves become curly. The symptoms you will notice are that the leaves are damaged; you might see holes or brown and black spots on the leaves. And if you look on the underside of the leaves, you will see tiny pests hiding. So, which pests are common for leaf curl? Well, aphids are obvious in this case, and broad mites are very common. Thrips and whiteflies can also cause your plant’s leaves to curl.
Virus
Another main reason for your plants to grow curly leaves is diseases and viruses. Diseases and viruses are very common problems for tomato plants with curly leaves. Many viral diseases will become obvious quickly, while others spread over time. Symptoms will depend on the specific disease or virus your plant has. Tomato yellow leaf curl virus is very common in the south and is brought by whiteflies. If you see whiteflies in your garden, you must take action against them. If your plant is already curly and virus-infected, the best solution is to remove that plant from your garden before it spreads to other plants.
Wind Damage
Wind damage is a very common reason for leaf curling. Blustery winds can damage the outer edges of leaves on your plants, causing them to curl. There is nothing you can do to prevent this wind damage. Tomato plants don’t like blustery winds when the weather is dry, and this can cause them to have curly leaves.
