A 3-4" tall plant in a 12" container is rootbound and roots are dying. They need to be transplanted into much larger containers ASAP. The minimum recommended container size for most any tomato variety is 5 gallons and 2x that size is much better unless they are one of the dwarf varieties. A 12 inch pot is approx. 1 to 2 gallons max.

Also what potting mix are you using?

Dave

Dave, thank you for your quick response! The pots are square, they measure 12x12 and 18 tall but they were made to be an equivalent size of a 5 gallon bucket which has approximately 10.5 inch diameter and 15 inch height so it actually holds more dirt than the five gallon bucket I have and tested with. I've grown in 5 gallon buckets before with no issues but this time I made fabric pots which really help prevent getting root bound. I have Natures Care potting soil by miracle grow. In the past I've mixed my own soil but not this year as I don't have the time or space to do so. They each have over .6 cubic feet of that in them. The 5 gallons I've used in the last have held .5 cubic feet so it seems weird they are root bound this time through. Also I am growing the same type of tomatoes as before. I keep thinking it is a disease (wilt of some kind) but I can't quite tell from all the Google searching I've done.

thanks

Jon

I don't think the pot size is the problem. A 12"x12"x 18" ( if filled ) should have 1.5 cu-ft volume and about 8 dry gallon capacity, bigger than a bucket.

I suspect two things ?

-- What is the medium ? Any manure in it ?

-- Any herbicide used around ?

-- How often do you water and fertilize ? What kind of fertilizer ?

Sey

I'd say iron deficiench -- based just on your photo and leaf-deficiency photos on the web.

The diagnosis photos are all over the Internet but this link might be helpful.

http://www.organicagardensupply.com/disease-pests/plant-nutrient-deficiencies-with-photos/

Sey, the medium is natures care potting soil, no manure added.

No herbicide use. I once used ant pesticide on the opposite of my patio but I have discontinued that and didn't even suspect it as a culprit... I hope that's not it...

I water every other day of needed but it rains often so I don't water if it rain that day. I check the soil 3-4 inches in for dampness before watering.

I fertilize every 2 weeks. I use Peruvian sea bird Guano (12-11-2) or extreme blend (by kelp4less) and K-mag for the potassium and mag. I alternate every other feeding for the guano and the extreme blend.

I also use Epsom salts every other week.

Thank you for your input Sey!

Not enough fast acting fertilizer is my guess. Feed those bad boys!

Baby G, thank you. My first assumption was disease didn't think it'd be a deficiency. I will get on that right away. I'm elated it's not a wilt issue!

I water every other day of needed but it rains often so I don't water if
it rain that day. I check the soil 3-4 inches in for dampness before
watering.

----------------------

I think you are over watering .

What happens is that over watering washes out the nutrients in general an Nitrogen in particular. Yellowing is one of the good indicator of Nitrogen deficiency due to over watering. Here is one of the great challenges in growing in pot. Unlike in the ground, the plants in pots should be fertilized maybe 3 times as often as those in ground, but at a much reduced concentration. I do it about 1/3 strength.

Sey

Sey, thank you that makes sense. I will start to do my feelings based on that and I will get some additional micro nutrients in the mix and see what happens. Thank you all!

I would add some good, FINISHED compost as food.

I doubt you need that much epsom salt. When you *do* use epsom salt, apply it as a foliar spray, not as a soil drench. It's how the plant can access it. For an actual soil deficiency of Magnesium, you would add SoPulMag to the soil and spray epsom on your leaves. But I believe your problem is something else. Good old compost.

It's also possible your soil is too acidic which could lead to Iron deficiency.