Why do tomato seedlings turn yellow and what to do?

Tomatoes are ancient and popular garden crops. If the culture has bright green foliage and a strong stem, then this cannot but please the gardener. However, in some cases, tomato seedlings begin to turn yellow and wither without waiting for a transplant to a permanent place of growth.

If tomato seedlings turn yellow, then the gardener should within a short time determine the cause of the trouble and start fixing it. If tomato leaves dry up on a windowsill or after transplanting into open ground, then improper or insufficient care, unfavorable environmental conditions and much more can cause this.

Each plant species is sensitive to soil nutrition. Tomatoes respond well to fertilizers, micro and macro elements. Top dressing plays an important role in the growth and development of tall tomatoes with a powerful root system. The fertilizer for this type of plant must contain a full range of elements, which will eliminate the deficiency of micro- and macroelements.

Tomatoes need potassium, nitrogen, zinc, manganese, iron, copper, phosphorus. All of these components should be present in the substrate in an optimal amount. It is quite difficult to make such a top dressing with your own hands, so experts recommend buying it in a store.

To determine which element is missing from the seedlings, you should pay attention to the following points:

• loss of green pigment in foliage, its yellowing, the formation of new small foliage may indicate a lack of nitrogen in the soil;
• curling of young leaves, as well as loss of color in old parts of seedlings, indicates a minimum amount of potassium in the substrate;
• magnesium deficiency can be recognized by the appearance of a yellow color along the leaf vein;
• amicable yellowing of tomato leaves with their subsequent whitening is usually caused by a lack of iron;
• brown or yellow spots appear on the seedlings - an insufficient amount of zinc;
• manganese deficiency manifests itself in the yellowing of the leaves in a checkerboard pattern.

The problem of insufficient lighting of plants is quite common, it can be simply identified. Since the tomato belongs to the light-loving vegetation, when grown on the northern windowsill, it always lacks sunlight. If cloudy weather is observed, then even with artificial backlighting, tomatoes will have a deficit in lighting.

Thickened sowing of tomatoes is also the reason for their yellowing even at the stage of germination and seedling. A culture growing in cramped conditions suffers from a lack of moisture, light, and nutrients. In addition, plants do not have enough space to fully develop.Tomatoes that grow too tightly are thin, frail, they have yellow lower foliage, and the upper one is light green with a yellow tint.

If the seedlings are planted in a container, then it can also be cramped in it. The root system of tomatoes does not have the optimal amount of space for growth, so it intertwines, loops itself. Due to the poor functioning of the root system, the ground part of the culture begins to suffer and turn yellow.

The substrate for tomatoes must be selected correctly, otherwise the seedlings will lack nutrients, which leads to their yellowing. Tomato grows well and develops in slightly acidic soil, the pH of which is between 5 and 6. If the culture grows in alkaline soil, then it may become iron deficient. In this case, the leaves acquire a yellowish tint with green veins.

The most common reason why tomato seedlings begin to turn yellow is considered to be improper irrigation. The shade of seedlings can turn yellow with both excess and lack of moisture. If the situation is not resolved and worsens, then the culture begins to turn yellow from the lower foliage. Lack of water provokes sagging leaves with their subsequent drying. When there is enough moisture in tomatoes, the leaves lose their elasticity, which leads to their yellowing, although they do not dry out.

The presence of yellow and pale leaves on the upper and lower branches on tomato seedlings may indicate that the plant is sick. This state of culture is often caused by parasite attacks, as well as infectious and bacterial ailments. The reason for this trouble is ignoring the prevention of infection of tomatoes when they are in the seedling stage. The most dangerous ailments of tomatoes include the following:

• a black leg, the sign of which is the appearance of a constriction, which provokes a change in the shade of the foliage from green to pale yellow;
• fusarium, manifested in yellowing, wilting of foliage, as well as stopping the growth of culture;
• phytophthora, which is associated with the formation of yellow spots on the leaves, which change their color to brown.

Many gardeners are wondering what to do if the foliage turns yellow on the seedlings. Depending on the clarified reason, the gardener will need to apply certain control measures to save tomatoes.

• In the event of a lack of lighting, it is recommended to rearrange the tomatoes to another place where they will not suffer from a lack of light. The cultivation of this culture should always be on the most lighted windowsill. Tomatoes must be additionally highlighted until 30 days old. To increase the level of illumination, experts recommend using reflective film or foil.
• If the tomato foliage has turned yellow from severe sunburn, then the plant can no longer be saved. If the degree of damage is initial, then the culture must be removed to another bright place, protecting it from direct sunlight. After the color of the seedlings turns green again, it can be returned to its original place, but you should not forget about shading.
• Since the seedlings may turn yellow from insufficient watering, the gardener should water the crop quickly and moderately. If, after such an event, the tomato has returned to its original color, it can be left alone, as it will grow and develop normally. Twisted foliage will need to be cut off, since it will not restore its shape.
• To prevent the foliage from turning yellow in tomatoes from too close planting, it is recommended to plant them in separate containers. Instances that do not compete with each other grow and develop normally.
• If the seedlings are in a container that is too tight for it, you will need to pick in a container with a larger capacity. If roots have grown along the perimeter, then they should be removed due to non-functionality. The other roots are cut by a quarter. Do not be alarmed if, after picking, the seedlings begin to turn yellow. Often these phenomena are short-lived, they can completely disappear only after the young roots grow, and the seedlings themselves get stronger.
• Yellowing of seedlings due to improper feeding can be corrected by applying complex fertilizers.
• If you feed the seedlings in time, this can eliminate the risk of yellowing of the tomato foliage.
• If tomatoes are infected with infections, it is recommended to treat them with a special preparation - an insecticide. The following drugs give a good effect: "Quadris", "Acrobat", "Agat", "Bordeaux mixture".

Growing tomatoes is a process that can be tricky.

In order to prevent yellowing of tomato seedlings, it is worth taking some preventive measures.

• The seed must be prepared in advance by disinfecting the substrate with potassium permanganate. This procedure will reduce the risk of contracting a fungal infection.
• In the process of growing tomatoes, it is worth adhering to agrotechnical rules that can increase the immunity of plants.
• Before picking or transplanting a crop, the gardener needs to process the foliage with "Epin" a day before the procedure.
• It is worth replanting seedlings into the soil after hardening, when the risk of frost has already passed.
• For the growth and development of high-quality seedlings, overheating of the culture from artificial lighting should not be allowed.
• Watering tomatoes should be infrequent, but abundant.
• The gardener should control the pH level of the soil.

For tips on how to eliminate yellowing of tomato seedlings, see the next video.