The leaves of tomato seedlings are drying. What to do in this case?

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Tomatoes are one of the strongest garden crops. However, often when growing tomato seedlings you notice that the leaves of young seedlings begin to dry out. And it’s not even a matter of experience; such a nuisance can happen to both a novice summer resident and an experienced gardener. Why do the leaves of tomato seedlings dry out and how to save the crop?

We save the plant: if the leaves of a tomato seedling suddenly dry out

Quite often, experienced gardeners are faced with the problem of drying out foliage after planting healthy seedlings in the ground. This circumstance can significantly confuse an inexperienced gardener. Experienced vegetable growers recommend not to panic and to carefully inspect the plants. In most cases, foliage dries out because the plant received a little stress at the time of replanting.

Optimal conditions for the development of Fusarium wilt of tomato leaves are created if frequent rains are followed by hot days, but the nights remain cold

Also the cause is improper watering, improper lighting or poor feeding. These causes are easily eliminated, and the plants quickly recover. It will be more difficult to save a plant that is susceptible to any disease. The most common disease is fusarium wilt.

This disease affects already mature plants. If the lower leaves lighten, acquiring a yellowish tint, this is the first sign that the plant is affected by the fusarium fungus. If measures are not taken in time, the affected foliage curls and dries out. If a problem is detected, it is necessary to spray with special biological products that are aimed at eliminating fungal infections.

It is also necessary to take preventive measures:

Purchase seeds only from trusted suppliers or in specialized stores;
Plant seedlings in pre-prepared soil;
Regularly feed the plants with all the necessary substances;
Promptly remove all dried and yellowed leaves;
Provide ideal conditions for growing tomatoes.

In order for tomato seedlings to produce good flowers and fruitful ovaries, it is necessary to carefully monitor the formation of greenery.

Excess moisture in the soil

This situation is the opposite of that described in the previous section - you “flooded” the tomatoes, but they don’t need that much moisture. As a result, the foliage dries out and the roots rot. If you continue in the same mode, then there will be nothing to plant in open ground - the plants will soon die completely. And if the shoots survive, the fruits will crack, and the stems will most likely be affected by fungus

Important! Check the degree of soil moisture in the same way as described for insufficient moisture - with a wooden stick.

Solution

How to cure tomato seedlings if the cause of drying leaves is excess moisture:

Water the plants with warm water.
When the soil becomes soft, carefully remove the plants one by one and inspect the roots. If they are rotten, throw them away immediately; there is nothing you can do to help them.
Prepare new soil for seedlings, taking into account previous mistakes.
Water the seedlings with a solution of potassium permanganate, preparing it in the proportion of 3-5 g of powder per 10 liters of water.
Adjust the watering regime, taking into account the recommendations from the previous section of this article.

Diseases

The death of seedlings is caused by fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases. Diseases caused by improper care also contribute to the list of losses.

Bacteria and viruses are introduced with soil and planting material. Fungi develop in a waterlogged environment, at low temperatures of the substrate and air.

Non-infectious diseases arise due to a lack of one or another element in the soil, its incorrect acidity.

Blackleg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=682YFjY4dE8

There is no cure, you can only prevent the disease. To do this, treat the soil before planting with fungicidal preparations (Fitosporin, Fundazol, potassium permanganate). Water the tomatoes only with warm water, sprinkle the soil with wood ash after moistening.

Fungal diseases that appear when the soil is over-moistened and seedlings are planted closely. Sick tomatoes wither, turn yellow, leaves dry out and die. Tomatoes can be saved by transplanting them into loose, disinfected soil.

Before the procedure, tomatoes are kept in a solution of potassium permanganate or Fitosporin for half an hour.

They are manifested by a change in the color of the leaves, followed by their drying out. Dried leaves fall. The virus is transmitted through infected seed material. The dead seedlings are thrown away, the soil in which they grew is spilled with boiling water and a raspberry solution of potassium permanganate.

As a preventative measure, tomato seeds are treated with Maxim before sowing.

Lack of nutrition

Plant leaves are like litmus test. Their color will tell you what microelements the young seedlings lack:

there is little nitrogen in the soil - the leaves are small, pale in color, the stems are weak, stunted, the lower plants turn yellow, dry out and die.
purple coloration of stems and leaves indicates a lack of phosphorus.
the leaves turn yellow and curl - the plants lack potassium and iron.
uneven, marbled leaf color indicates magnesium deficiency.

Fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizers or folk remedies will allow you to balance the composition of nutrients in the soil

Fertika Lux,
Emerald,
Ideal,
Sturdy,
Gumi Kuznetsova,
Rich,
Agricola,
Infusion of onion peel.

You can replenish the supply of nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium by feeding with superphosphate. And among complex fertilizers, nitrophoska showed itself positively.

If the leaves dry out

There are several reasons why tomato seedling leaves dry out.

It is important to emphasize that the above-ground part of the seedling is considered the main indicator of the health of young tomatoes. Therefore, even an inexperienced farmer can immediately notice the slightest changes in the crop

After all, the lower leaves will immediately signal you about this.

As for the most common reasons, there are several of them:

dry air;
salty soil;
lack of potassium;
excessive waterlogging or lack of moisture.

The cause of leaf drying may be salting of the substrate due to watering with hard water or excessive fertilizing. In this case, it is recommended to carefully remove the top layer of soil and add fresh soil.

The main signs of soil salinity are white or yellowish spots on the surface

If the leaves begin to dry out after picking, it means that the roots of the seedling have been damaged. To bring the plant back to life faster, you can spray it with a weak solution of complex mineral fertilizer.

The leaves are withering

If the leaves of tomatoes wither and dry out, there may be several reasons. One of the reasons is lack of moisture. If the substrate in which the tomatoes are planted consists of only peat. In such a mixture, moisture is not retained, but spills into the pan. In this case, the plant is carefully removed from the cups and the root system is washed. Then they are transplanted into suitable soil.

Another reason that leads to the fact that the leaves begin to dry is Fusarium wilt. The first signs are yellowing of the leaves. This disease most often manifests itself after transplantation into the ground.

To prevent the disease from spreading, you should not take seeds from diseased tomatoes. It is also forbidden to take soil where diseased tomatoes grew. It is necessary to eliminate the causes and steam the soil before planting seedlings in it. If a disease occurs, tomato seedlings will have to be thrown out.

Why do tomato seedlings' leaves curl?

Leaves may curl due to the characteristics of the tomato variety. For varieties such as Honeydrop, Japanese Crab, Oxheart and many cherry tomatoes, slight leaf curling down is normal and nothing to worry about. But if the leaves of the seedlings suddenly begin to curl, which does not correspond to the description of the variety, then it’s time to sound the alarm.

Curled leaves are the result of improper care of seedlings

One of the common causes of leaf curling is too high a room temperature. The plant tries to reduce the area of moisture evaporation, which is why it “curls” its leaves. The seedlings will feel good if in the first week after germination the temperature is maintained within 15-17⁰C during the day and 11-13⁰C at night, and then gradually increased to 20-23⁰C and 15-18⁰C, respectively. This will allow the seedling to develop normally and give a good harvest in the future.

As for the effect of watering on the curling of leaves in tomato seedlings, it is important to maintain a balance, since both excess and lack of moisture can cause the problem. For irrigation, it is better to use settled tap water or melted snow water.

The first shoots should be carefully sprayed with warm water twice a day, and already grown seedlings should be watered moderately at the root as the soil dries. 2 days before picking and on the 5th day after it, the plants should be watered. In the future, tomato seedlings need to be watered once a week.

Watering tomato seedlings is done at the root

Improper application of fertilizers leads to an excess or lack of nutrients in the soil, which can manifest itself in the form of yellowed and deformed leaves of tomato seedlings. For example, when only the lower leaves turn yellow, this indicates a lack of nitrogen, and yellowing of the entire seedling is a sign of too much nitrogen in the soil.

Curling and the appearance of spots on the leaves of seedlings may be a signal that the seedling has been attacked by pests: aphids, whiteflies or spider mites. To prevent the invasion of uninvited guests, you need to create suitable conditions for growing seedlings, as well as regularly and carefully inspect the seedlings.

If the plant is heavily damaged by pests, you will have to treat the seedlings with insecticides, but if the damage is minor, it will be enough to collect the aphids by hand and spray the leaves with a solution of soapy water (30 g of laundry soap per 1 liter of warm water).

Treating seedlings with insecticides will help in pest control

Regular spraying with plain water will help get rid of spider mites (the pest can be recognized by small black dots on the underside of the leaves), especially if there are few pests on the leaves. In case of massive damage, spray the plants with Actellik, Fitoverm, Iskra M or other similar insecticides.

Leaves can also turn yellow for natural reasons, for example, during and after picking, a seedling tends to experience stress, which causes the color of the leaves to change. In such cases, within a week the seedlings will take on a healthy appearance, having gotten used to the new place.

Soil salinity

Oversalinity of the soil, or in other words its excessive mineralization, also adversely affects the condition of the seedlings - the leaves on the tomatoes dry out and may wither. Signs of this phenomenon are white and yellow blotches appearing in the ground.

Reasons for soil salinity for seedlings:

too frequent and intensive fertilizing with mineral fertilizers;
watering with tap water, which contains a greatly increased content of iron, magnesium, chlorine and other impurities.

Solution

What to do to correct the situation and ensure the full development of seedlings:

Carefully remove the top layer of soil by approximately 1 cm.
Add fresh, pre-disinfected soil.
Set up the correct watering regime and eliminate the application of fertilizers for at least 2 weeks.

Diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms

Such diseases are the most dangerous for plant crops. Can be transmitted through soil, parasites or already present on tomato seeds. Bacteria can manifest themselves either immediately or remain in “sleeping” mode. To avoid plant diseases, you should not allow:

Temperatures above 28 degrees Celsius.
High soil moisture.
Stagnation of water in planting pots.

Reference. To prevent bacterial diseases, do not neglect thorough disinfection of soil and seeds. Any copper-containing solution is suitable for treating seedlings.

The most dangerous bacterial disease can be considered “bacterial cancer”. The disease destroys the vessels of the plant. Externally it appears as:

The appearance of ulcers along the entire stem trunk.
Complete death of seedlings.

Treatment is impossible. The diseased plant must be removed and burned. The soil in which the seedlings were located is no longer used. This disease can be prevented by treating seeds with 40 percent formaldehyde (calculating 1 part solution - 300 parts water).

spotting

Buraya

This disease has the following symptoms:

Small yellow spots on the outside of the leaves.
Rapid growth of these spots.
White coating on the inside of the leaf.
Dying of seedling leaves.

The disease can be cured by spraying cuprosil, copper sulfate or any other copper-containing drug.

Black bacterial

External symptoms of the disease appear quite late:

Slight lethargy of the sprout.
Small black spots on the leaves and stem of the tomato.
Rapid spread of spots throughout the plant.
Death of a seedling.

It is better to remove infected seedlings. The remaining sprouts must be treated with 1 percent Bordeaux solution every few days.

Mottling

The disease develops due to the penetration of phytopathogenic bacteria into the crop. External signs of the disease:

The appearance of transparent oil stains on the leaves of seedlings.
Leaf damage begins from the edges to the middle.
Curling of plant foliage.
Complete loss of leaves.

To cure seedlings, it is necessary to spray with copper sulfate (calculating 1 glass - 10 liters of water) or Fitolavin-300.

Stolbur

The most common bacterial disease of home seedlings. The disease is caused by microplasma bodies that are carried by many types of insects. Symptoms of the disease:

Pink or purple spots on seedlings.
The leaves and trunk of the plant become very rough.

Treatment and prevention are carried out with any special drug:

Confidor.
Aktara.
Mospilan.

Spraying is carried out twice:

Three weeks after planting the seeds in the container.
Before planting seedlings in a permanent place.

Bacterial wilt

A dangerous disease when plants suddenly begin to wither. Other symptoms may include:

Formation of aerial roots.
Stopping plant growth.
Covering the leaves of seedlings with yellow spots.
Formation of longitudinal brown stripes on the stem.

The disease is incurable. The seedlings should be burned and the soil cultivated. Other plants need to be disinfected with Fitoflavin-300.

The photo below shows a plant affected by the disease:

To get a large harvest of tomatoes in the fall, you need to properly maintain the seedlings in winter. If you care for your seedlings responsibly, you can avoid many diseases.

Prevention measures

In order not to be puzzled by the problems of tomato seedlings dying on the windowsill, plant them correctly and organize reasonable care:

Be sure to treat the soil and container before planting.
Provide good access to light, heat, and normal humidity levels.
Follow the watering rules, using only water suitable for these purposes.
Monitor the condition of the soil regularly.
Apply special fertilizers and fertilizing without reducing or exceeding the recommended dosage. If you prefer professional ready-made fertilizers, make sure that the package is marked “for tomatoes.”

Growing tomato seedlings should be a pleasure and a pleasant pastime for you with the hope of a further bountiful harvest. And for this to be so in reality, it is enough just to carefully monitor the development of plants and not ignore possible signs of diseases, do not let them take their course.

How to water tomatoes correctly?

Excessive watering can be another reason why tomato leaves curl. Curling from excess water begins with the lower leaves and gradually spreads to the tops of the plant. The leaf blades curl funnel-shaped toward the upper surface along the central vein. The leaves become dense, hard to the touch and crumble easily. To prevent this from happening, tomatoes need to be watered correctly:

Water the tomatoes once a week, using 3-5 liters of water for each bush. During the fruiting period - 2 times a week, using the same amount of water;
use rainwater for irrigation - due to the presence of carbonic acid in it, it has a mild effect. The water should be warm – 24-26°C;
in hot weather, postpone watering to the evening - this way the water will be better absorbed and absorbed by the roots;
water the tomatoes at the roots - this watering allows you to moisten the soil, and the air humidity will not change;
use mulching of the soil - this will help maintain optimal moisture.

Lack of moisture in the soil

To make sure that this factor is the reason that the tomato seedlings are drying out, carefully examine the soil in the containers.

The following signs will indicate a lack of moisture:

the presence of lumps in the soil;
crust formation;
soil cracking.

Important! The severity of the problem can also be verified experimentally. To do this, arm yourself with a wooden stick about 10 cm long and pierce the soil. It may be that the soil is dried out and weathered only in the upper layer, but at depth there is order. In such a situation, it is reasonable to replace the unsuitable layer of soil.

Solution

Here's what to do if tomato seedlings dry out due to lack of moisture in the soil to its full depth:

Set up a proper watering schedule. 1-2 times a week is enough, but more frequent, but small portions are absolutely not suitable for tomatoes.
When watering, make sure that the water flows directly into the soil and does not fall on the leaves and stems.
Use water with a temperature of about 23 degrees, preferably settled, rain or boiled. Colder water can cause not only drying of the leaves, but also fungal diseases.
Apply fertilizers that dissolve in warm water.

Common diseases and pests of tomatoes

The leaves of tomato seedlings dry out due to common fungal and viral infections. Their list looks like this:

Late blight. Causes the formation of brown spots and subsequent drying of leaves. The reason for the development of fungus is heavy rains and high humidity. The problem is spreading quickly. To eliminate it, you need to remove all damaged parts, cover the root zone with nettles and spray with fungicide.
Tobacco mosaic. The leaf blades become lacy, the top fades, then turns brown and yellow. The problem can only be prevented; it is impossible to get rid of it once it occurs.
Fusarium wilt. A common fungal infection that progresses quickly; the pathogen sucks all the juices out of the crop. The stems quickly turn brown and begin to wither. Even with normal watering, it seems that the plant has dried out. Prevention is ensured by maintaining normal air humidity and increasing the temperature in the room.

The reason for the rapid drying of leaves may be due to increased activity of pests: mites or aphids. With large-scale seeding, a young tomato quickly dies. If the damage is minor, the most hopeless specimens are removed, and the remainder of the seedlings are treated with fungicidal preparations.

Leaves turn yellow and dry out

If the leaves of tomato seedlings dry out and turn yellow immediately after picking, then it is quite possible that the roots were damaged during replanting. This happens with early or careless picking. Let's list what other reasons there may be for the leaves turning yellow and drying out at the time of picking seedlings:

fungal disease;
sunburn;
“wrong” soil mixture.

As a rule, manufacturers of soils for seedlings sin in the same way. They put too much peat and don't add any microelements at all. But during this period, seedlings vitally need nitrogen and other substances. Sometimes purchased soil consists entirely of peat, and the water does not linger and flows into the pan. Moisture does not reach the roots of the seedlings.

Self-preparing the seeds and soil before sowing will help eliminate the cause, which will help avoid contamination of the soil with diseases such as fungus. To prevent diseases, seeds for sowing can be treated in a saturated solution of manganese. And then, taking precautions, change the water in which they will be soaked and rinse the dishes to avoid fungal diseases.

The soil mixture needs to be heated for 10-20 minutes in an oven preheated to 200°C. It will be better if you prepare the soil for tomato seedlings yourself. To do this, you need to mix several ingredients, which are taken not by weight, but by volume. One of the compositions:

turf soil - 3 parts;
compost - 2 parts;
sand - 1 part.

In order to properly prepare the soil for tomato seedlings, you need to mix all the ingredients in the fall. In winter, place the container with soil on the balcony so that the main causes of disease - fungal spores - die.

In the spring, before planting, the mixture must be sifted or large particles must be manually removed. Add 2 tablespoons of superphosphate, a liter of ash and a bag of vermiculite to a bucket of tomato mixture. Often the cause of poor soil is too little air. Vermiculite will give it lightness and saturate it with air.

But, in growing tomatoes, other reasons may appear, as a result of which the leaves will begin to turn yellow, dry out, and a disease may even develop. To prevent this from happening, you need to know the reasons and know what to do with tomato seedlings. These may include the following reasons:

flooding with water (excessive watering);
lack of light;
lack of nitrogen.

Let's look at each point separately. Overwatering of seedlings is a common problem among gardeners. It's not always their fault. It happens that the soil is formed incorrectly and it either strongly “holds” water, or, conversely, allows it to pass through. In this case, the leaves begin to turn yellow and dry out. In such cases, the problem can be solved by replanting the plants before they die.

It happens that yellowing is the result of a lack of light. Seedlings without light cannot grow to their full potential. The ideal place to start growing seedlings is a south window. Then, when the seedlings grow up and the bright spring sun appears, they can be moved to the southeast or southwest side.

Yellowed seedlings

If the leaves have already turned yellow, then it is advisable to transplant the sprout into new soil, warm and sufficiently moist. Before transplanting to a new place, it is worth inspecting the roots. If they are healthy, as evidenced by their white color without signs of rot, then the plant can be rehabilitated. If they are yellow or black, then such plants will most likely die.

It is not difficult to guess why the foliage may turn yellow as a result of a dive: either the root was injured, or the transplant was done too early. To save the tomato from wilting, it is recommended to do shading. In a couple of days the sprouts will return to normal. You should not solve this problem by moving the box with seedlings to a room protected from sunlight, otherwise another problem will arise: the leaves will lose their brightness and stretch out.

Common problems

Tomatoes are not a fastidious crop and do not cause much trouble at the seedling preparation stage. Their seeds are distinguished by increased germination, and later the plants fully develop and tolerate picking without any problems.

But sometimes, due to inexperience, as a result of errors in care, the tips of the leaves of tomato seedlings dry out or fall off completely. It is by the state of the green mass that one can judge the development of plants, since their depressed state indicates problems that have arisen. Why does this happen and what led to negative consequences:

lack of moisture in the soil;
low air humidity;
lack of microelements;
damage by fungal diseases or pests;
soil acidification;
waterlogging of the soil;
transplantation to a permanent place;
sunburn.

Dry leaves from seedlings

Important! Each of the listed problems should not be ignored; without adequate measures to eliminate it, the situation will worsen and jeopardize the possibility of obtaining a harvest.

Lack of moisture

Tomatoes prefer to grow in a moist environment, so regular watering is important. A dried out root system is not able to fully nourish the plant; the foliage begins to wither, dries out, and subsequently falls off completely.

On a note. The first sign of a lack of moisture is yellowing of the lower sheets, and the process spreads immediately across the entire leaf plate.

Low air humidity also negatively affects the development of seedlings. Dry air is a side effect of heating appliances. And since seedlings are initially grown on window sills, the plants suffer due to the supply of warm air from the radiators. In addition, a characteristic crust forms on the soil, which prevents the penetration of air to the roots, which disrupts the metabolic processes in the tissues of the seedlings.

Overmoistening

Often, yellowing of leaves is associated with excessive watering against a background of lack of light. When growing seedlings at home or in a greenhouse, watering should be done after the soil has dried. Otherwise, waterlogging leads to the fact that the leaves initially begin to turn yellow and then dry out completely.

Note! Waterlogging of the soil may be indicated by a dried out top layer; the crust prevents the evaporation of excess moisture.

Soil acidification

Yellowing along the edges of the leaf blades evenly throughout the plant is a sign of salting or acidification of the soil. The first signal will be the appearance of a light coating on the soil surface.

This leads to the fact that plants cannot absorb nutrition and moisture from the soil and therefore the root system takes all the vitality from the above-ground part. Subsequently, the seedlings deplete themselves and die completely. The reason is the increased hardness of the water for irrigation; it may contain chlorine and heavy impurities. Another reason is applying too much fertilizer.

Increased water hardness for irrigation

Lack of microelements

In the absence of basic nutrients, seedlings become sick, which is manifested by a light shade of leaf blades, yellowing and falling of the lower row of foliage, as well as other unpleasant symptoms.

But before you fertilize, you should figure out exactly what component the plants need. Only in this case can the negative process be stopped and the seedlings strengthened.

Nitrogen deficiency. It appears as a light shade, small size and subsequently complete loss of foliage.
Lack of potassium. The tips of the leaves of tomato seedlings dry out.
Lack of zinc. The leaf blades become narrow and wrinkled. Subsequently, in the absence of adequate measures, they partially dry out and fall off.
Boron deficiency. It is characterized by necrosis of the crown of the plant, and the veins on new leaves turn yellow.
Iron deficiency. The absence of this component is manifested by discoloration of the leaves and stems, that is, they initially turn yellow and then completely turn white. The seedlings begin to noticeably lag in growth, and the edges of the leaf blades die off.

Sunburn

Tomatoes need good lighting throughout the entire growth period, but young seedlings may suffer from direct sunlight. This is expressed by light spots or drying of the leaves.

Burns on tomato leaves

Transplantation into open ground

Often, when transplanting plants to a permanent place in open ground, the lower leaves turn yellow and dry out. This happens if the seedlings were not prepared and under the influence of the external environment they get sick.

Important! As a result, not only the leaves, but also the main stem can dry out.

Diseases and pests

Leaves and stems of tomato seedlings can dry out due to damage by fungal diseases and pests.

Blackleg. This disease is most dangerous at the initial stage of seedling development. At the same time, the main stem at the base turns black. The provoking factor for the development of the disease is excessive watering against the backdrop of short daylight hours, dense plantings, and planting seeds in questionable soil.
Septoria. The disease manifests itself as black dots and gray spots on the lower leaves of seedlings. This ultimately leads to their complete drying out. The main cause of damage is the use of untreated soil.
Late blight. The disease is characterized by dark spots on the leaves, which subsequently increase in size and spread to the main stem. The reason for its spread may be contaminated seeds, untreated planting containers and soil.
Brown spot. The disease manifests itself as spots on brown leaves. The cause of the damage is increased air humidity and regular waterlogging of the soil.

Tomato seedlings in open ground

It happens that seemingly strong and healthy seedlings have been grown and there are no signs of diseases on them, but after planting in open ground, the leaves on the bushes begin to dry. The main reason for this is improper planting and violations of agricultural technology.

Tomatoes should be planted in the beds in the afternoon. The seedlings must be prepared for planting in the morning. The cotyledon leaves are torn off and all yellowed parts of the plants are removed. They pick off those leaves that, after planting, will be below the soil level. By the afternoon, when the seedlings begin to be planted, all the places where the leaves have been torn off will have already dried out.

In order for tomatoes to quickly adapt to the new environment and not turn yellow, they must be planted in warm soil. The warmth of the soil should be checked in advance. This can be done with a thermometer by digging it into the ground. It is desirable that the ground temperature is about +15.

When planting tomatoes, you should leave about a meter between the rows. Leave a step of about 50 cm between the bushes - this way the bushes will not turn yellow and dry out. To plant even rows, and at the same time tie up the shoots of bushes, they dig in pegs and pull the wire. The bushes should not be allowed to lie on the ground, as in this case diseases will begin to spread and the leaves will turn yellow and dry out.

It is advisable to plant only those seedlings that have reached a height of 26 cm. Usually only 5-6 leaves are left on each bush - this way the seedlings will be less sick. The optimal depth for planting tomatoes is 10 cm.

It happens that tomato seedlings that were sown too early become overgrown. In this case, dig holes approximately 23-25 cm deep. On overgrown seedlings, all the lower leaves are torn off, and the stem itself is placed in the hole at an angle. The stem is sprinkled with earth - lateral roots will appear on it.

To grow strong and healthy tomato bushes in your garden, you need to feed them every two weeks. The fertilizer is diluted in water. Slurry fertilizers are very useful. You can also use droppings. Fed seedlings in open ground will get sick much less. Feeding is especially important at the time of flowering and fruit set.

A very annoying situation when tomato seedlings dry out and die can in many cases be easily corrected. By applying fertilizers on time and providing the seedlings with proper care, you can get a generous harvest of tomatoes.

Conclusions about the poor condition of seedlings

In order for the seedlings to form correctly and for the adult plant to take root well in the open ground, it is necessary to expend energy and attention. From the moment the seeds begin to sprout until the development of a full-fledged plant, the crop needs proper and timely care. The state of the greenery can indicate problems. If the foliage begins to dry out, curl up and fall off, this indicates an incorrect microclimate or an infection. If treatment measures are not taken, the culture may disappear completely.

What is the reason for the leaves of seedlings to dry out?

Every summer resident should understand why the leaves on tomato seedlings dry out in order to prevent such a situation and also eliminate it in a timely manner. Otherwise, there is a chance of ruining the future harvest. Trying to sow the seeds again may be unsuccessful because there is simply not enough time. And there is a risk of making a mistake again.

Reasons for all the leaves falling off

The main indicator of tomato health is its green mass.

Usually, an experienced farmer immediately sees why tomato seedlings are drying up, and, having taken appropriate measures, quickly corrects the situation. But as for beginners, they rarely manage to improve the condition of the seedlings. Therefore, before germinating seeds, it is worth carefully studying the features of cultivating tomatoes, as well as problems that may arise in the process.

This is why leaves fall on tomato seedlings grown on a windowsill:

The indoor air is too dry. Tomatoes love a humid climate. And the central heating system installed in domestic apartments greatly dries out the air.
Excess salts in the soil. In this case, white or yellow inclusions form on the surface of the leaves. Irrigation with hard water and frequent fertilizing are the reasons for the appearance of excessive amounts of salts in the soil. In this state, seedlings are not able to draw the nutrients they need from the soil. Therefore, it begins to dry out and wither.
Potassium deficiency.
Lack or excess of moisture. Associated with improper irrigation.
Presence of diseases. Late blight is what most often kills tomato seedlings. Late blight affects the plant as a result of frequent irrigation and failure to maintain optimal temperature conditions. In addition to leaves, it affects late blight and fruits. This disease can destroy the entire crop in a short time.

Causes of drying of the lower leaves

Often, tomato seedlings dry out the leaves located at the bottom of the plant. This is typical for pale seedlings. First, the lower leaves of the seedlings turn yellow. Then they dry out and fall off. This situation creates many questions. Inexperienced gardeners cannot understand the reason for this state of the plant. It's actually simple.

Lack of nitrogen. At the same time, the bush becomes sluggish, the foliage becomes faded. The new leaves are inconspicuous and small.
Potassium deficiency. With a lack of this element, the lower leaves turn yellow and dry out.
Excess moisture due to improper irrigation.
Lack of lighting.

Thus, a deficiency of certain elements is the main reason why the lower leaves of tomato seedlings fall off most often. There is no need to worry too much here. The situation is completely fixable.

Causes of drying leaf tips

Sometimes gardeners observe the following situation: the tips of the leaves of tomato seedlings dry out, turn yellow and curl. And there are many reasons for this. Let's look at the most common ones.

Dry air in the house

To do this, you should pay attention to the condition of other plants. Perhaps the tips of their leaves are also drying out. Over-salted soil. Lack of an element such as potassium

This is usually typical for soil that is highly acidic.

Thus, there are many reasons why the lower leaves of tomato seedlings dry out.

And it is important to correctly determine why such a situation with seedlings occurred.

Other reasons for the poor condition of tomato seedlings

Too high a temperature is why the leaves of tomato seedlings on the window fall off.
Sometimes after picking, the farmer observes that the leaves begin to dry out. Most likely, the roots were damaged during the transplantation procedure. What to do in this case, how to save tomato seedlings and bring them back to life? There is an exit. It is necessary to spray the plant with a weak solution of mineral complex fertilizer.

General information

Tomatoes came to our beds from warm, sunny Latin America. Tomatoes were brought to Europe only in the 16th century, and at that time they were only an ornamental plant. The very first recipe for preparing a tomato dish dates back only to the 17th century.

In our countries, tomatoes have long been considered a poisonous plant. But over time, the tomato has firmly taken a leading position in our gardens. Various methods have been developed for planting this crop in open ground and in a greenhouse, and growing seedlings. In our climate, in order for tomatoes to ripen, they must be grown only through seedlings.

The main thing for the proper development of seedlings, and then adult plants, is warmth and sun. If the air temperature is too low, the tomato seedlings will first stop growing and then begin to get sick.

The lack of sunlight will lead to the fact that the seedlings will gain very little green mass, will be stunted and weak. Such plants never bear many large fruits and they quickly wither. Therefore, when sowing tomatoes for seedlings in early spring, the seedlings must be given additional light so that they do not get sick.

The culture is distinguished by enhanced root formation. If the bush is not tied to pegs or a trellis, then roots will begin to grow where the shoots touch the ground. Thanks to this, tomatoes can be propagated not only by seeds, but also by cuttings. To do this, planting material is rooted in water.

Tomato seedlings are in dire need of nutrients during the period of active growth. Seedlings need trace elements to produce more fruit in the future. The root system of tomatoes goes deep into the ground in search of food.

Tomatoes need the following elements:

nitrogen;
potassium;
phosphorus;
copper;
boron;
manganese.

A deficiency or, conversely, an excess of these basic nutrients will certainly affect the condition of the seedlings. The changes will affect not only yields, but also plant resistance to diseases and insect pests. Tomatoes must be fed, but the recommended dosage must not be violated.

If there is not enough nitrogen in the substrate when growing seedlings, and then in open ground in the garden, the lower leaf plates of the seedlings will begin to dry out and crumble. In this case, the remaining leaves will be very pale, and the plant itself will become lethargic. Those new leaves that will grow on the seedlings will become very small.

You can replenish nitrogen deficiency in the soil by applying ready-made mineral fertilizers. It is possible to add seedlings using folk remedies. Bird droppings contain a lot of nitrogen and can easily be used to prepare a nutrient solution. To prepare the fertilizer, dry bird droppings are mixed with water in a 1:2 ratio. After three days, when the droppings have infused, the liquid is diluted again with clean water at the rate of 1:20. The concentration when preparing this fertilizer should never be increased, as the seedlings can easily be burned.

It is very important to take into account when adding nitrogen to tomato or pepper seedlings that an excess of this element in the soil can lead to the plants becoming “fat” - the bushes will have a lot of juicy foliage, but there will be very few fruits.

A deficiency of an element such as potassium can also lead to the leaves of seedlings starting to turn yellow. The main sign of a lack of this element is that the edges of the leaves begin to turn outward and then dry out.

With such symptoms, the soil should be shed with a solution of potassium magnesia or potassium sulfate. You can also fertilize the soil with wood ash. To do this, you need to pour a handful of ash into 1 liter of boiling water and leave for several days. The prepared solution should be diluted in a ratio of 1:5 with water and added to the seedlings.

Fertilizing seedlings with banana skins will also help correct the situation. It is necessary to dry several skins and grind them into flour, which is sprinkled on the ground.

With a lack of phosphorus, the leaves begin to not only dry out, but red veins begin to appear on them. An ash solution will help replenish the phosphorus deficiency in the soil. Iron deficiency is corrected by pouring nettle infusion into the soil. The main sign of iron deficiency is slow growth of seedlings and yellowing of leaves.

Leaves of tomato seedlings dry: what to do

It is necessary to act based on the identified problem.

When pouring soil

You can save seedlings by transplanting seedlings into fresh substrate. In this case, the roots of each plant should be examined and made sure that they are white and have a healthy appearance. If they have a yellow or black tint, the seedlings cannot be saved; in this case, even the transplanted plants will die.

The soil for replanting should be prepared as light and nutritious. It is also necessary to pre-water it with a strong solution of potassium permanganate, which will prevent the development of pathogens. In the future, water only as needed, after the soil has dried out.

Fresh substrate

When dry

It is necessary to water the seedlings generously and allow them to become completely saturated. But the next watering should be done after the top layer has dried. Between irrigations, it is necessary to loosen the soil surface, which will improve its breathability.

Important! Tomato seedlings love abundant but infrequent watering. You can increase air humidity and prevent seedlings from drying out from exposure to heating devices by placing additional containers of water near the seedling boxes, which will increase the area of moisture evaporation

You can increase air humidity and prevent seedlings from drying out from exposure to heating devices by placing additional containers of water near the seedling boxes, which will increase the area of moisture evaporation.

Note! It is not recommended to spray seedlings on leaves, as this can provoke the development of fungal diseases.

When the soil becomes acidic

If yellow and white spots appear on the surface of the soil, it should be rehabilitated. In this case, it is recommended to remove the top layer and replace it with a new one. Seedlings should be watered with rain or melt water, which will help avoid re-salting the soil. It is also necessary to limit feeding for at least 2 weeks.

If it is not possible to collect water after rain, it is necessary to use the water that has settled for 12 hours.

Lack of nutrients

You can make up for nutritional deficiencies with the help of fertilizing, which must contain the missing component.

To saturate seedlings with nitrogen, you can use organic fertilizers:

rotted manure - 1 liter of product per 10 liters of water;
chicken manure - 1 liter per 20 liters of water.

In the absence of iron, it is recommended to water the seedlings with iron chelate at the rate of 5 g per 5 liters of water. Potassium deficiency can be eliminated using a folk remedy based on wood ash. To do this, you need to prepare a special hood, pour 50 g of ash into 1 liter of boiling water, and after cooling, you need to add another 5 liters of water. Water the plants with the prepared solution.

Boron deficiency can be corrected by spraying the foliage with boric acid. To do this you should

Boron deficiency

You can compensate for the lack of zinc using foliar feeding. To do this, you need to dissolve 5 g of zinc sulfate in 1 bucket of water. If necessary, the procedure should be repeated after 10 days.

Fungal diseases

Every gardener should know what to do if the leaves of tomato seedlings dry out as a result of the development of diseases, since in this case the clock is ticking. And the sooner drastic measures are taken, the greater the chance of saving the seedlings.

When blackleg progresses, it is necessary to water the seedlings with Maxim or Previkur, which will help stop the further development of the disease. And subsequently plant healthy plants separately in new soil.

Septorosis, brown spot and late blight can be treated by spraying seedlings with fungicides: Quadris, Ridomil Gold, Revus or Champion.

To grow healthy tomato seedlings, you need to try, since any disregard of the rules entails negative consequences. It is necessary to study the preferences of the culture in advance and adhere to moderation in everything.

How to save tomato seedlings?

When the leaves of tomato seedlings dry out, every vegetable grower should know what to do. First, you need to determine the root cause of this condition. And based on this, try to improve the situation.

Experts give the following advice:

If the cause is dry air, correcting the situation is quite simple. It is enough to periodically spray the plant with a spray bottle. Experts also recommend placing a container of liquid next to the container with the seedlings.
In case of excess salts in the ground, to save the young animals, it is necessary to replace the top layer of soil with a new, better quality one. All watering must be carried out only with settled or filtered water.
If there is a lack of potassium, fertilizing with potassium sulfate or potassium magnesium is effective. Some experts also recommend an infusion of ash. It is more harmless, but no less effective.
If the reason is poor watering, solving the problem is quite simple. The soil should not be allowed to dry out. But it’s also not worth filling it up. The soil should have time to dry out between waterings. To check, use matches or sticks.
When infected with late blight, an ash-based tincture is used, as well as various products containing copper. To prevent tomato seedlings from getting sick again, prevention should be carried out. To do this, the plant is treated with special chemicals. Fertilizers are also applied to strengthen the crop’s immunity.

It is important to note that fungal diseases are extremely difficult to fight; prevention is much easier.

To do this, it is advisable to collect seeds for future seedlings from healthy, mature shrubs. It is even better to buy seed in a specialized store. Before sowing, it is good to etch the seeds with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Containers for seedlings should be disinfected. All the tools too. It is worth using high-quality soil that is free from infection.

If the cause is a deficiency of nitrogen and potassium, fertilizing will be required. However, it is important not to overdo it with nitrogen. Because its excess also has a detrimental effect on the plant. The seedlings become thick and their leaves become powerful. Such a crop will bloom and bear fruit poorly, since all efforts are spent only on increasing the green mass.

Potassium deficiency can be easily compensated by irrigating the soil with an infusion of banana peels or ash infusion. Similar feedings are done three times a week. To avoid the problem of the lower leaves of tomato seedlings drying out, you need to be able to apply fertilizers correctly and on time.

If there is a lack of sunlight, the seedlings should be moved to a more illuminated place. You can also create artificial lighting by installing a fluorescent lamp.

When the leaves of tomato seedlings fall off, inexperienced vegetable growers do not know what to do, which is why they often lose the harvest, although it is quite possible to save the plant. For example, try replanting the sprouts in fresh soil. In any case, such a procedure will not harm. To perform this operation, you need to carefully remove the old soil from the roots. The roots should be examined carefully. If they turn yellow, turn black, or rot, you will have to throw away such seedlings.

If they are in good condition, continue replanting. The soil should be light, with good aeration. It is advisable to pour a spoonful of manganese solution under each young animal. Cups with sprouts are placed in a sunny place. But if the tomato seedlings dry out after transplanting, they need to be placed in the shade for a while. The roots were probably damaged during the procedure. It is important to give them time to strengthen and take root. And only then put it in a sunny place.

A situation often arises: a summer resident works tirelessly on seedlings, but even with sufficient watering and proper feeding, the tomato seedlings still disappear - few people know what to do in this case. Why are the sprouts in this state if all the growing rules are followed? Here it is important to check that the soil is not contaminated with fungal infections, viruses and other pathogens. It probably needs to be replanted in new soil. You can try to defeat the infection by spraying with special industrial solutions against pests and fungi.

Fungal and viral diseases

Sometimes the cause of wilting is diseases and pests.

Late blight

Most often, tomato plantings are attacked by varieties of fungal or viral diseases. Late blight is the most common infection. Its characteristic signs include the appearance of brown spots and subsequent drying of the leaves. Typically, plantings become infected during periods of heavy rains and high air humidity.

Prevention and treatment

The disease spreads quickly - all affected areas are immediately removed. The root zone is covered with nettle, as it absorbs moisture well, and the broken areas are treated with a late blight remedy. Sometimes it is better to remove the entire bush to save the rest of the crop.

Tobacco mosaic

Also, the leaves of domestic tomato seedlings dry out due to tobacco mosaic. She appears in mid-summer. As the mosaic spreads, the tops of the tomatoes first wither, then turn brown and yellow. A characteristic sign of the disease is the lacy appearance of the leaves.

Prevention and treatment

In this case, only correct agricultural technology, timely removal of infected plants and correct selection of seeds for the soil can help. Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely eliminate the tobacco mosaic.

Fusarium wilt

Fusarium wilt is another common infection. This is a fungus that feeds on cell sap. The stems turn brown, the leaves fade. With sufficient watering, the bushes look as if they have dried up.

Prevention and treatment

Preventing the disease helps to maintain humidity in the region of 60-70% and thermal conditions, including the use of stove heating if the temperature drops at night.

Pests

Drying of plants can be caused by mites and aphids. For these parasites, the process of sucking nutrients from the body of tomatoes is very important.

If the seedlings wither...

It may be bacterial, fusarium or verticillium wilt.

The main symptoms of these diseases manifest themselves in the same way: the lower leaves hang like rags, then the upper leaves and the crown wither. The leaves may also turn yellow and dry out. The plant eventually dies completely. Seedlings can suffer from wilting both on the windowsill and after being planted in a greenhouse.

In the photo: bacterial wilt on an adult plant

The lower leaves droop, turn yellow, dry out:

Pictured: Fusarium wilt

Young seedlings wither, turn yellow and are stunted:

Pictured: Verticillium wilt

Wilting begins from the edge of the leaf, then it turns yellow and dries out:

Infection occurs through the soil - most often with purchased soil. In this case, the following picture is observed: before picking, the seedlings grow normally, actively develop, and after picking they begin to wither. Plants do not respond to spraying with growth stimulants, fertilizing, additional lighting, or watering. This means that the pathogens “latched on” at the time of transplantation. Action must be taken immediately, as the disease spreads quickly and leads to the death of the plant. Bacteria and fungi infect the vascular system, clogging the vessels with the products of their vital activity. The plant stops receiving nutrition from the soil. If you make a cut on the stem, you can see brown veins of blood vessels - a sign of damage by bacterial, Fusarium or Verticillium wilt.

The following drugs are effective against all three types of wilt:

Fitolavin,
Glyocladin,
Maksim.

If the symptoms of the disease appear every year, then you can, without waiting for a crisis, treat the seedlings with the listed means for preventive purposes.

Wilting + burn spots

Take a closer look at the leaves of the seedlings. If they are not just lethargic, but also have burn spots (as if the leaves were poured with boiling water), then in this case the cause of wilting is peat soil with excessive addition of nutrients, incl. nitrogen.

If there are doubts about the composition of the soil, then it is worth replacing it: take 1 part of peat soil and mix with 2 parts of garden soil. But before replanting, the soil must be disinfected: for example, put in a plastic bag and calcined for 10 minutes in the microwave.

Wilting due to oversaturation of the soil with chemical additives often occurred in the 90s, when domestic producers were just starting this business. But even nowadays you can buy low-quality soil. By the way, in the 90s gardeners got out of the situation this way: they thoroughly washed the soil before use.

Blackleg

This is the case when seedlings literally die out on the vine. Most often very young plants and seedlings are affected. The main symptom is that the stem at the soil level becomes thinner, becomes dark, the plant falls, withers and completely dies. The fight against blackleg was discussed in detail in the article “Why did the seedlings turn yellow and what to do?”

Provide proper care

Any changes in the color and condition of the sheet plates indicate problems

To minimize the likelihood of leaves falling, follow these simple rules:

Provide good sunlight to plants. Tomatoes should be in the sun for at least 6 hours a day, preferably more. This is the only way they can develop and grow normally. If there is a lack of sun in the cells, the processes of photosynthesis are disrupted, they begin to dry out, change color, and in the most advanced cases they fall off. It is best to locate on the south or west side of the house.

Maintain the correct watering schedule. If you carry out work frequently, excess moisture leads to inhibition or even rotting of the root system, plus the likelihood of fungal diseases increases sharply. You need to water no more than once a week and use a lot of liquid; this is the best option for the normal development of the root system.

Properly prepare seeds for planting. If the cause of the leaves drying and falling is a viral disease, then you will not help the plants in any way; they will all die. To eliminate such problems, seeds are disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide

It is also very important to select nutritious soil, which you prepare yourself or buy ready-made.

If the leaves begin to dry out or turn white at the edges, then most often the reason is a lack of microelements

Pick up seedlings. When plants are located in a small common container, over time they inevitably experience a lack of space. The seedlings begin to stretch, the stem becomes thinner, and the plants often shed their leaves - first of all, the lower shoots and cotyledon leaves fall off. It is best to use cups with a volume of at least 500 ml so that the roots have enough space.
Apply fertilizing if necessary. If tomatoes lack nutrients, it is the leaves that suffer first. There can be many options; it is best to apply complex fertilizer for tomatoes; this is done once a week after picking, then repeated approximately once every 3 weeks. You can alternate traditional and foliar feeding.
Monitor compliance with the temperature regime. Any sharp fluctuations are dangerous for young plants; high temperatures and bright sun cause burns and drying out of the leaves, and low temperatures provoke a disruption in the absorption of nutrients.

If the plants are damaged by bacteria, it is no longer possible to save them; they should be removed urgently so as not to infect healthy seedlings

The author of the video uses the drug Glyokladin to prevent fungal diseases on seedlings. It is effective and easy to use.

Death of seedlings for other reasons

Tomato seedlings do not always deteriorate due to certain external influences: insects or diseases. Sometimes plants simply lack the necessary microelements. Let's look at the most common problems with microelements in the soil:

lack of nitrogen makes the plant trunk fragile, and the tomato leaves turn yellow or completely lose color;
a lack of a substance such as phosphorus slows down the growth of the plant; tomatoes also turn their leaves bluish and drop them;
a small amount of potassium leads to yellowing of the foliage, which then darkens, becomes deformed, dries out and falls off;
with a lack of magnesium, yellow stripes can be seen along the veins of the leaves, sometimes the leaves completely turn yellow and die;
a lack of iron turns the leaves of tomato seedlings light yellow, while the veins remain green;
calcium deficiency can be identified by yellowed, shriveled and curled ends of young leaves;
with a lack of boron in the soil, the plant becomes fragile, the upper shoots of the seedlings dry out and curl, the veins of the leaves lose color;
lack of sulfur manifests itself in the paleness of the seedling, the stem becomes fragile and thin, the leaves lose color;
with a lack of copper, the leaves of the seedlings acquire a bluish tint, turn white at the edges and curl;
A lack of manganese causes leaves to turn yellow at the base and along the veins.

Photo gallery: consequences of a lack of microelements in tomatoes

Seedlings may also suffer due to improper conditions.

This is especially important during the plant peaking period, since this procedure is stressful for the seedlings. Here are some rules:

at temperatures below 16 °C plants will slow down in development;
at too high temperatures (above 15 °C) the plants will stretch;
if there is insufficient humidity (below 50%) of the air, the leaves of the seedlings will become smaller;
with excess air humidity (above 75%), plants slow down in development;
with insufficient lighting (less than 14 hours a day), plants will stretch and lag behind in development;
with an excess of fertilizers, the plants will become stronger, but will hardly produce new leaves and shoots.

Be attentive to the seedlings, as most problems can be avoided or solved immediately, preventing the development and deterioration of all planting material. Follow all the rules for maintaining plants, water them on time and monitor their appearance. Then you will be able to harvest a large harvest of tomatoes.

Fungal diseases

Fungal diseases most often affect tomato ovaries. The reasons for their appearance may be:

Poorly cultivated soil.
Diseased tomato seeds.
High humidity in the room.
Improper care of seedlings.
Moisture getting on the sprouts when watering.
Poor drainage of planting pots.
Stagnation of water in the soil.

The latter seems to be the most favorable environment for the development of fungal diseases. One of these diseases is rhizoctoniasis. Otherwise referred to as “blackleg” or “root rot”. Symptoms include:

Darkening of the ovary stem at the root.
The stem becomes thinner.
Withering of the sprout and its fall.

The plant itself cannot be saved. It dies within a day. The tomato ovary should be removed and the soil treated with a 3 percent manganese solution. It is advisable to spray the remaining seedlings with Bordeaux mixture.

Important: before planting seeds, they should be disinfected using a 5 percent solution of potassium permanganate.

This is what a black leg looks like on tomato seedlings:

Late blight

A destructive fungal disease. Infection of seedlings occurs through poorly treated soil. It is quite difficult to diagnose a fungus at an early stage of development, which makes it difficult to treat the plant. The disease can affect any vegetable crop at all stages of growth and flowering.

Signs of the disease:

The appearance of dark spots with light edges on the leaves and stem of seedlings.
Stem rotting.
Complete drying of the tomato ovary.

You can cope with the fungus only by timely removing the affected leaves or stems of the plant. The removed parts of the ovary must be burned. The remaining seedlings should be disinfected with a solution of Bordeaux mixture.

Important: you should not leave infected parts of plants in the garden. You should not use them as compost either. To avoid further spread of the disease, the removed grass should be burned

To avoid further spread of the disease, the removed grass must be burned.

Alternaria or dry rot

The disease manifests itself as:

The appearance of brown spots on the underside of the leaves.
The spots grow quickly and cover all areas of the leaves.
Falling leaves of seedlings.
Darkening of the tomato stem.

The fungus should be combated using chemicals:

Acrobat.
Ditan.
Quadris.

White spot

The fungus spreads from the soil to the lower leaves of seedlings and quickly spreads throughout the entire stem.

Symptoms of the disease:

Darkening of tomato leaves.
The appearance of black spots on the affected foliage.
Drying and dying of leaves.

If the disease is detected in a timely manner, the plant must be treated with a solution of copper sulfate (1 glass - 10 liters of water). In case of prolonged disease, the seedlings should be destroyed, and the soil should be disinfected with potassium permanganate and sprinkled with wood ash.

Cladosporiosis

Basically, infection with olive spot occurs after planting tomato ovaries in a greenhouse. The first signs of fungus are:

The appearance of yellow spots on the lower leaves of seedlings on the outside.
Formation of a velvety coating from the inside of the leaf.
Curling and dying of foliage.

For treatment, it is enough to remove the diseased foliage from the seedlings and treat with any of the following:

Bordeaux acid.
Screening
Barrier.

Powdery mildew

The disease is caused by a marsupial fungus. Transmitted to the plant from contaminated soil. Externally it appears as a white coating on the foliage. To treat and prevent the disease, seedlings are sprayed with the following agents:

Quadris.
Strobe.
Topaz.

Before planting seeds in containers, you can soak them in Epin solution.