Leaf curl on tomato plants - finding it difficult to resolve!

Hello all,

Sorry if this seems a little bit of an amateur question. I'm just a little bit stuck!

We've had some lovely weather recently and I decided to take the plunge and plant out my tomato plants. They have continued to grow with strong stems and more leaves, I've put a 'cut up bottle cloche' on them over night and I've been trying to hardened them up in the day by taking the cloche off. However, despite lovely weather and little breeze, within 15 mins of the cloche being removed they start curling their leaves. Just wondering if any more experienced gardeners know if I should just let them curl and get them use to it, or just continue to use the cloche a little while longer?

Thanks in advance,

Sam

 

They need a minimum of 10C - sadly I think it is unlikely you will be able to maintain that through all nights in April, and maybe May too

The leaf curl probably won't matter, but if you have just planted them out they need to acclimatise ("Harden off") for several days, so should not be subjected to either too much sun, definitely no wind at all to start with, and also no temperatures below 10C.

 

Thanks very much - hopefully I'll have some happier plants now

 

You do not mention which part of the country you are in, but having just watched the weather forecast, tonight is going to be frosty for at least half the country.

The last few sunny days have given folk a false sense that its ok to put out tender plants.

Think you would be better getting them inside for at least the next two weeks where the long range forecast is averaging around 5c for most nights.

If you think your plants are too big to move back indoors, a couple of options.

Sow some more seeds now that will be the right size to plant out in late May or take off some sideshoots of your existing plants and root them as cuttings, they take quiet easily with a bit of bottom heat.

 

Thanks you, those are some really helpful things for me to have a think about. I live in Devon, so reasonably sunny and warm, but still the UK none the less!

 

Kristen and ricky101 give solid advice.

I will add by advising you to keep an eye out on your local weather report. Look for five consecutive days/nights where the minimum temperature is at least 10°C before taking the tomato plants outdoors.

A smaller plant that is timed right will outperform a larger (more mature) one that has been prematurely planted outdoors.

 

Thanks for the info!

 

Seasons:

Winter,
Fools Spring,
2nd Winter,
Spring of deception,
3rd Winter, (we are roughly here now!)
Mud Season,
Actual Spring,

I saw this a few years ago and it still makes me laugh at the truth of it even though global warming does appear to have robbed us of April showers.

Steve...

 

I visited my cousin on Toronto many year ago ... he explained they only had two seasons there, "Winter" and "Construction" !