Curled leaves and flowers on tomatoes

by Elaine
(Visalia, CA)

Q. My tomato plant leaves and flowers are curling. I don't see any pests. They don't have brown spots or brown edges. Can you tell me what the problem may be?

A. There are several culprits responsible for curling leaves on tomatoes.

• Leaf roll. Leaf roll (also called leaf curl) affects plants during wet, cool weather, inconsistent watering, or pruning (all stress factors). Leaves roll upward, become thick, and may overlap. Plants outgrow the condition and can produce healthy fruit.
  
• Herbicide damage. Drifting weed control products and treated grass clippings can make tomato leaves curl downward and become stunted. Avoid using herbicides when treating areas surrounding your tomato patch - or at the very least, treat on a day with no breeze.
  
• Tomato leaf curl virus. This disease is caused by a virus transmitted by insects and affects more greenhouse tomato plants than those grown outdoors. Leaves curl upward and the plant is stunted. Curling begins on new growth. If the plant is infected while tomatoes are developing, fruit may not be affected. If plant is infected earlier, flowers may drop or fail to set fruit. Control tomato leaf curl virus by controlling pests, especially sucking insects like aphids and white fly.
  

Stress always intensifies leaf curling. Keep conditions as consistent as possible for your tomato plants.

Good luck and happy gardening!
Your friends at Tomato Dirt