Tomatoes can be finicky plants, with problems often manifesting as leaf curl.

But you don’t always need to resort to chemicals right away! The nature of the leaf curling can help you determine the cause of the problem and take the right measures.

Curling the leaves upwards like a boat :

Pest:  Potato aphid, which feeds on plant sap, causing leaves to curl.

Solution:  Treat tomatoes with insecticides (e.g., Tanreg, Confidor, Iskra). However, use chemicals with caution.

Hot weather and lack of moisture can also trigger this phenomenon. In this case, mulching the soil and spraying the plants with micronutrients is recommended.

Curling of leaves downwards :

Disease:  bacterial cancer, manifested by curling, curling and drying of the lower leaves.

Solution:  Immediately remove infected plants to prevent the spread of the disease. Leaf curling can also be caused by a deficiency of phosphorus, boron, or other micronutrients.

In this case, it is recommended to feed the tomatoes with complex fertilizers containing microelements.

Other reasons :

• Calcium deficiency:  manifests itself as upward leaf curling and blossom-end rot of the fruit. Solution: apply calcium nitrate.
• Excess manganese:  Young tomato foliage wrinkles and becomes “chewed.” Solution: Use manganese in moderation.
• Potassium deficiency:  leaf edges curl and turn brown. Solution: Fertilize with potassium fertilizer.

Remember that leaf curling in some tomato varieties may be a varietal characteristic and does not require treatment.

Monitor your tomatoes, analyze the symptoms and take timely measures!