Yellow leaves on tomato plants in containers are often seen due to natural causes. For example, when you pick a tomato seedling from a permanent place and plant it in a different new container, the lower leaves of the tomato plant often turn yellow. The tomato plant causes this phenomenon as an adaptation to adapt itself to a different environment from the previous one. This condition is initially caused by the inability to withstand the stress of transplant-related factors as a result of sudden exposure to the new environment. With the passage of time, the stress caused by the transplant is overcome and the tomato plant comes alive again with green leaves. In addition to these natural phenomena, some unwanted diseases, pest infestations, excessive irrigation of the soil, root problems, malnutrition, and many other reasons can cause yellowing of the leaves of the tomato plant. If you suddenly notice that the lower leaves of the tomato plant are turning yellow, then it is possible to restore the plant by treating the plant in the same way by observing it on the spot without being panicked. Let’s get started on what causes your pot tomato leaves to turn yellow and what kind of steps you can take to easily deal with this problem.

Reasons behind yellow leaves on tomato plants in containers
Diseases and manifestations of pests
Tomato leaf curling disease and control management
Earlier, tomatoes were usually cultivated in farmers’ fields during the Rabi season i.e. winter. But now it is cultivated all year round in tubs or containers or in the backyard. One of the important diseases is leaf blight. Leaf blight is a viral disease and is spread by whiteflies.
Symptoms
- The plant becomes short and the leaves turn yellow. Wavy grooves are formed on the leaves and the leaves become very wrinkled. The leaf curls from the edge to the middle vein.
- The top leaves of the affected plant are small bunches.
- The leaves become rough and the veins become transparent yellow and wrinkle.
- Old curly leaves become thick and crunchy.
- As the level of attack increases, the leaves die.
- Excessive branching of the plant and disruption of normal growth results in drastic reduction in flowering and yield. If attacked in advance, the yield is not at all.

Remedies and prevention
- Weeding should be maintained.
- Healthy seedlings should be planted and seeds should be collected from healthy plants for the next season.
- Seedlings should be produced by covering the seedbed with small perforated (40-50 holes per square inch) nylon net.
- The virus is transmitted by whitefly infestation, to control whiteflies at least twice in a row from one week after planting to 15 days of flowering, such as Imidacloprid group Admiral 0.5 ml / liter in water or Emitaf 125 ml /. Mix in a liter of water and spray.
If the soil is not prepared properly
Mix several ingredients properly while preparing the soil for tub tomato cultivation. Make soil by mixing loam soil 50%, and 10%, dry dung or leaf rot fertilizer or vermicompost fertilizer 30%, and ash 10%. There are some things to keep in mind while preparing the soil, such as if the soil is clayey, increase the amount of sand in the mixture. If you see that the soil is sandy loam type, do not give sand at all. You have to make the tub soil by looking at the condition of the soil used like this. If the soil is prepared in this way, it can be done without using chemical fertilizers. However, if you want, you can give a handful of mixed fertilizer (NPK) while preparing the soil for tomato cultivation.
Handmade fertilizer for curry leaves that you can use also on tomato plants
Citation: Homemade Fertilizer For Curry Leaf Plant
Irrigation
Watering is a very important issue in tub tomato cultivation. Tomato plants should be watered daily. However, no excess water can be applied. Tomato plant diseases are caused by giving too much water, besides watering the leaves of the plant every day is responsible for various fungal diseases. The daily meat or fish washing water of the house should be given directly to the plant. This has many benefits for the plant. Keep in mind that if for some reason the tomato plant lacks water, the yield will not be good and the fruit will fall off at a young age.
Poor drainage system
Irrigation and drainage are very important in tomato production and modern agricultural management. Water drainage management is the artificial removal of excess water and salt from the soil. Irrigation and drainage are basically two mutually complementary methods. Adequate and planned drainage in containers removes excess water and salinity from the soil and increases soil fertility. As a result, the production and nutrition value of the tomato crop increases. Excessive drainage can excessively reduce the amount of soil moisture, resulting in infertility, crop loss, and yellow leaves on tomato plants.
The following benefits are available to the tomato plant through adequate and science based extraction.
- The facility of cultivating the soil and sowing the plant before the regular time is available.
- The germination period is increased.
- The depth of the root area increases as a result of which the required soil moisture and plant nutrients increase.
- Helps to create aerobic conditions in the soil.
- Helps in the production of essential aerobic bacteria.
- Reduces soil erosion and water erosion.
- Removes harmful excess salt.
- Ensures an increase in the required heat of the soil.
- Controls weeds.
- The plant grows quickly and freshly.
- Overall tomato nutrition increases the productivity of the soil and increases the yield of tomato.
- The cost of farming is reduced and dry land is available.
Drainage is not the only thing that gives good results. There are some direct and indirect consequences of unplanned or excessive drainage, which adversely affect the tomato plant. However, its scale depends on the type of project, among other things, and its impact on various resources, and the mitigating measures adopted. The adverse effects of drainage are given below.
- Excessive drainage can lead to excessive loss of soil moisture resulting in loss of tomato production and reduced soil fertility.
- The fertility of aerobic bacteria required for the soil may be reduced.
- The vitamins, minerals and salts needed by the plant are lost from the soil.
- Excessive drainage systems weaken the roots of the plant and the plan may die.
- The yield of the tomato plant decreases, the leaves of the plant turn yellow, fall down towards the ground and the fruit falls off.
In the case of planting tomato plants, the seedlings should be planted separately in a container after the soil in the container is ready. And make sure the plants have adequate sunlight. Tomato plants absorb a lot of nutrients from the soil. So the plant should be watered regularly. However, do not give extra water. If doing so, the roots of the plant will rot.
What kind of tub / pot shape to choose in cultivation
Tubs or drums are usually used for planting tomato seedlings. You can also use different small containers or packets. However, keep in mind that no more than one tomato seedling can be given in a container.
Climate effects on tomato plants
The relationship of tomato plants with climatic elements is:
Effects of sunlight
Tomato plants cannot survive without sunlight, as light plays a direct and indirect role in chlorophyll synthesis, hormone synthesis, photosynthesis, reproduction, germination, flowering etc.
- Light intensity: Helps in the origin of flowers, fruits and seeds of tomato plants. Due to the high intensity of light in open space, the plants are thick in nature and have broad leaves, but in dense areas, their stems and leaves are both dwarf and slender.
- Nature of light: The growth and development of plants is affected by the nature of light ie. red, blue and ultraviolet rays.
- Light duration: The duration of tomato flowering depends on the light duration. The circulatory system of the tomato plant is largely dependent on the daylight duration.
Effects of precipitation
Water is essential for the physiological and other functions of the tomato plant. Due to rainfall, snowfall, etc., water accumulates in the sub-surface layer of the soil. Plant takes that water whenever it’s needed. The minerals in the soil are dissolved. The plant absorbs these nutrients through water and performs the functions of photosynthesis, juice preservation, etc.
Water is needed for the protoplasm of living cells. Therefore, the growth, structure, etc. of plants depend on the amount of water in the soil and the amount of moisture in the air. Therefore, just as the amount of annual rainfall is affected, the distribution of seasonal rainfall also plays an important role in the growth of flowers, fruits, and leaves of the tomato plant.
Effects of temperature
Temperature plays an important role in the physiological functions of tomato plants such as respiration, germination, etc., for rapid chemical reactions between different minerals taken from the soil as plant food. For example 20°-27 ° C temperature is required for germination of seeds. Protoplasm is destroyed at very low or high temperatures and at low temperatures and high humidity the roots of the plant can rot.
In addition, fog, clouds, etc. indirectly control the growth of tomato plants. For example, if the sky is foggy or cloudy, the amount of sunlight decreases, and the amount of relative humidity increases. This reduces evaporation. As evaporation decreases, the amount of water lost by the potted tomato plant also decreases. As the temperature decreases, the activity of the plant decreases, resulting in the yellowing of leaves. A temperature of 55-85° F (Fahrenheit) is ideal for the good growth of tomato plants and acceleration of growth of leaves, flowering, and fruits. If the temperature is low, artificial plant grower light for increased temperature will need to be arranged on tomato plants in containers.
The effect of airflow
Airflow affects the normal plant’s growth in many ways.
- More humid air reduces the rate of evaporation and perspiration and leaves the possibility of heavy rainfall. When the dry air circulation is high, evaporation is high, the soil dries up and water shortage begins. When the air is dry, the physiological permeability of the plant increases. As a result, the swelling pressure of the cell decreases, cell growth is disrupted and the plant size decreases.
- Due to the speed of the wind, the young parts of the tomato plant such as branches, leaves, etc. shrink. Airborne sand, gravel, quartz, etc. damage the buds, leaves, etc. of the plant. Apart from this, the plants are also damaged by the salt particles carried by the wind. It is normal for the leaves to turn yellow besides shrink in any kind of injury.
- When the wind blows at high speed, its effect on the plants is extreme. For example, a plant may be uprooted by mechanical impact, or its branches may be broken. The plants gradually tilt to one side to form curves, disrupt normal growth, and branch out irregularly.
- As a result of the wind, the seeds of the plant spread elsewhere and help in the propagation of the plant. In addition, the pollen grains are blown away by the air flow and help in pollination and reproduction of plants.
Lack of fertilizer or application of excess fertilizer causes yellowing of tomato leaves
If there is a lack of fertilizer in the plant or if the level of fertilizer application is high, the leaves of the potted tomato plant may turn yellow. Organic fertilizers should be applied regularly outside the fertilizers applied at the time of planting. On the other hand, application of chemical fertilizers is not so important. In addition, urea and other fertilizers should be mixed with the soil 6 inches away from the base of the plant depending on the condition of the plant. It is best to use liquid fertilizer for tub plants. To make liquid fertilizer, 200 gms of mustard oil cake or 500 gms of dry dung should be mixed in 2 liters of water and left for 2 days. Then if you want to give chemical fertilizer, mix one teaspoon of NPK or mixed fertilizer with the prepared liquid fertilizer and apply it on tomato plants in containers. At the time of application, pour the required amount of liquid fertilizer at least 6-8 inches away from the base of the plant. If this liquid fertilizer is applied twice a month, the yield will be quite good.
Do you have curry leaves in your house? Is the plant turning yellow? Take a look at the excellent solution!
Citation: An easy solution to prevent curry leaves from turning yellow
Disease management system
Mosaic virus
Mosaic virus is a deadly disease. If this disease attacks the tomato plant, the yield can be reduced by 90%. Mosaic virus attacks can be prevented in two ways.
Remedy
Some virus resistant tomato seeds are available in the market. These are mainly made through mechanical inoculation. The seeds of this variety are inoculated with a small amount of the mosaic virus. As a result, the plants from these seeds are no longer infected by the virus. You can buy virus resistance seeds from the online shop.
Mosaic virus suppression through cross protection
Cross protection is the cultivation of any plants with tomato plants that work against the virus. For example, corn is cultivated to provide protection against the mosaic virus. If it is possible to plant some corn in your garden, it can protect the pepper, tomato, capsicum, papaya, or gourd from the mosaic virus attack.
Application of organic pesticides
Organic pesticides can be used to control the pests of tomato plants. This type of pesticide can be made by boiling neem leaves or from the juice of marigold leaves. It is also possible to control insects in a natural way by spraying neem oil.
Bacterial Disease Control
Tomato plants are a natural way to control bacterial diseases, and if such diseases occur, the plant should be removed. In most cases, it is difficult for the plant to survive. You can use hydrogen peroxide as natural pesticides to fight bacterial diseases.
Fungal Disease Control
Natural fungicides should be used in case of symptoms of fungal diseases. You can use wood ash, baking soda, garlic oil, aloe vera juice as any of these as natural pesticides. However, if the fungal infection is high, use garlic oil, it is a very effective fungicide.
Use of poison bait
Insects can be controlled using poison bait. In that case, to make a poison bait, mix 100 g of crushed pumpkin with 100 g of water and 0.25 g of Dipterex. Pour this mixture in an earthen pot and keep it near the tub or drum. Different types of insects will come in and die. The effectiveness of this poison bait lasts for 3 to 4 days. It has to be changed every 4 days.
Citation: Why is pruning done when the tree is dormant?
Frequently asked questions
Why are my potted tomato leaves turning yellow?
Should I remove yellow leaves from tomato plants?
Last words
This plant should be planted in a tub when the tomato seeds are one inch long. Care should be taken so that two plants do not come together in a tub. Weeds need to be cleaned regularly. And water properly. Tomato plants usually use more organic fertilizers. Use dung manure, compost, kitchen vegetable peels, eggshells as fertilizer. You can also give urea, TSP fertilizer as inorganic fertilizer. In case of insect infestation on tomato plants, spray with soapy water or sprinkle ashes. The insects will go away. When the fruit comes, keep the soil of the plant a little dry. Flowers can fall on the watery muddy soil. If the tomato plant is a little big, the plant should be tied with a hard stick. The old leaves and some stalks should be discarded. So that the plant does not become too bushy. The soil in the tub should be loosened with a light hoe every few days. Tomatoes need to be harvested at that time as they turn red after ripening. In addition, the fruit can be collected as soon as the redness starts from the spot after the fall of flowers under the fruit. This fruit can be stored for a long time. Hopefully with regular care of the tomato plant in this way the tomato plant will be fresh, will bear more fruit and the tomato plant will have green leaves. And by following all the rules mentioned above, you can prevent the yellow leaves on tomato plants in containers.