I think the curling probably has more to do with the temp than anything. A few of my plants have curled leaves too and we have been in the upper 90s temp wise also

thanks you.

More likely an inappropriate potting mix that retains too much water.

Hey Karen,

High temps can stress a tomato plant, and curling leaves are a sign of stress. But it can have other causes, and as Taz indicates, poor drainage can be one of them. But so can getting too dry between waterings.

You don't say how large your container is or what growing medium you are using. Sometimes when it is very hot, you may need to water container plants more than once a day, especially if they are in a 5 gallon or smaller container.

Before you water the plant, stick your finger down into the growing medium and see if it is really dry or too wet. That may tell you what the issue is. If the potting medium is damp but not dripping wet, then most likely the issue is the heat.

Betsy

I have 19 plants, all different varieties, and 17 of them are in identical containers and growing media. One of my plants, Clint Eastwood's Rowdy Red, seems to have much more of a tendency to curl its leaves upward. In fact, it's the only one I've noticed do it at all!

Leaves can curl if it's too hot, too cold, too wet or too dry and many hybrid varieties have curled leaves normally.

if the leaves curl up into a tight tube like structure, then consider aphids.

But if there are no other symptoms I wouldn't worry that much, actually I ignore curled leaves until and unless I do see other symptoms.

There's also a physiological condition found early in the season called Leaf Roll, when there's an imbalance between root mass and foliage mass, but that goes away as the plants mature.

And that may be something to consider in terms of your container grown plant. I don't know the size of your container, nor do I know if the the tomato variety is an indeterminate or a determinate variety.

Hope that helps.

Carolyn

shlacm:

My clint eastwood is also my only plant with significant leaf curl. Even took it to the nursery experts.

I made an entry over in the container forum about this.

does it have a genetic tendency to curl leaves?

(Colorado zone 5 in a 10-12 gallon container)

d

Here is a link that might be useful: Clint Eastwood container leaf curl posting

Thanks everyone! I will get the drainage and how dry they are. It is in a large pot, but not sure of the size.

A month later and my Clint Estwood Rowdy Red leaf curl is gone.

I think the Lime, the Azomite, monitoring moisture level, a little Less than 100% sun, AND shading that big black pot from the relentless sunshine all did some to relieve stress; Clint even has some little green maters winking at me.

Maybe like the name sake, this plant is just a little finicky and wants to be spoiled. I hope the plants fruit live up to the trouble invested.

d