Tomato Leaves Turning White? Don't Panic! Here's What to Do...

Tomato Leaves Turning White?

Exposure to intense sunlight is the most common cause for leaves to turn white in tomatoes.

Leaves on a tomato plant turn white when they are exposed to intense sunlight. The leaves will become bleached and the plant will look unhealthy. The leaves will also become crispy and may even fall off the plant.

However, too much sunlight on your tomato leaves is not the only cause of the white leaves on your plants

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Common Causes Of Tomato Leaves Turn White

There are various causes of tomato leaves turning white. Some of the most common causes are listed below:

Your Tomato Plant Can Be Getting Too Much Direct Sunlight

If your tomato leaves start to turn white, it could be a sign that your plant is getting too much direct sunlight. While tomatoes do need some sunlight to grow, too much sun can damage the leaves and cause them to turn white.

If you notice this happening, try to move your plant to a spot that gets a little less sun.If you’ve ever tried growing tomatoes, you know that they do need a lot of sun.

In fact, tomatoes thrive in full sun. But you don’t want them to get too much direct sunlight because it can cause sunscald.

This happens when the leaves of a tomato plant become too sensitive to the sun.

Tomato Plants Are Sensitive to Cold Temperatures

Tomatoes are sensitive to cold temperatures. A cold night can slow down their growth and cause them to produce less fruit. This is why you should keep your tomato plants inside during winter.

The first thing you should do when your tomatoes start to turn white is to check the air temperature.

If it’s below freezing, you’ll need to move your tomato plants inside to prevent any further damage.

As a rule, it’s best to protect outdoor plants from cold weather by bringing them inside at night. This prevents damage and lets the plants grow strong and full.

Fungal Diseases Can Also Cause Tomato Leaves to Turn White

Fungal diseases can cause tomato leaves to turn white. This can reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches the plant, which can lead to decreased growth and yield.

Fungal diseases can also cause damage to the plant’s tissues, leading to loss of yield and fruit.

Fungal diseases are often caused by improper watering, too much sunlight, or poor air circulation.

Tomato Plants Can Also Have Nutrient Deficiencies or Too Many Nutrients

If you are growing tomatoes in a garden, you may notice that the leaves of the plants will turn white and the plants will look sick.

This is usually a sign that the plants are deficient in one or more nutrients and will need to be supplemented with the appropriate nutrients to grow and produce fruit.

Not enough calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, or phosphorus are all common deficiencies in tomato plants and may contribute to the leaves turning white.

How To Fix Tomato Plant Leaves Turning White

Now that we know the causes of tomato plant leaves turning white, it’s time to look at some possible solutions.

Solutions to Tomato Sunscald

Tomato sunscald is a very common problem for tomato growers. The best way to combat sunscald is to prevent it. To prevent sunscald, try planting tomatoes in the shade of taller crops.

Also, plant tomatoes in rows so that they can receive full sunlight without direct sun. It is also important to protect tomato plants from wind.

Sunscald is an injury that occurs when the leaves of a plant get too hot and burn. It can affect the entire plant, but most commonly affects the top leaves.

You may see small brown spots on the leaves, which can turn into black spots. As sunscald continues to progress, the leaves may wilt and turn yellow. When sunscald occurs in the fruit, it will cause the fruit to drop prematurely.

There are many reasons why you should use organic gardening practices.

Prevention of Sunscald on your Tomatoes

Sunscald is a common problem that many growers have when growing tomatoes indoors. It is caused by the plants being too young when they are transplanted into their permanent containers.

Therefore, when you transplant your plants, make sure to give them a few weeks to get acclimated to their new home before you start exposing them to direct sunlight.

If you do this, you’ll be able to prevent sunscald from happening in the future.

It’s important to give your plant enough time to acclimate to the new environment before you expose them to direct sunlight.

Plants will naturally grow toward the light, so it is important that you do not expose them to too much sun in the beginning.

In fact, it is better to start your plants in a dark place for about 1 2 hours the first day, then gradually expose them to direct sunlight for at least 7 days before you move them to a sunny spot.

Solutions to Sensitivity to Cold Temperatures

One solution to sensitivity to cold temperatures for tomato plants is to grow plants in a greenhouse or other heated environment.

Another solution is to plant varieties that are more tolerant to cold temperatures. We have listed a few below

Tomato Varieties that can grow well in colder conditions:

Celebrity.
Golden Nugget.
Husky Gold.
Orange Pixie.
Oregon Spring.
Siletz.

Solutions to Fungal Diseases

Fungal diseases can be another cause of white spots or blotches on the leaves, stems, and/or fruit of a plant. If you see a white spot on a leaf, it is likely a fungal disease and needs to be treated with fungicides.

It is also important to make sure you are not overwatering your plants. Overwatering can lead to root rot and fungal diseases.

Solutions to Nutrient deficiencies or too many nutrients

If you notice the leaves of your tomato plant turning white, it is a sign that the plant is lacking in one or more of the micronutrients.

To combat this try to fertilize the plant with a tomato fertilizer that includes the missing nutrient.

You can also spray some water on the leaves to make them more water-retentive.

When you grow tomatoes in your garden, you need to ensure you provide them with the right amount of nutrients to grow healthy, productive plants.

If you are growing tomatoes in your garden, it is important to provide them with the right amount of nutrients. To help them grow, you need to add enough nitrogen to the soil.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tomato Leaves Turning White

Will Tomato Plants Recover From Sunscald?

Unfortunately, tomato plants that develop sunscald will not grow back. The best way to deal with sunscald on tomato leaves is to try to prevent it from happening in the first place.

If the sunscald hasn’t penetrated deep into the plant tissue, it may recover with a little TLC. Remove any damaged leaves and fruit immediately. Water deeply once or twice a week to help promote good circulation to the roots.

Prune off diseased portions of the vines. If you see the early signs of sunscald during cooler weather, protect your plants with a tree wrap

How Much Water Do Tomatoes Need?

When it comes to watering your garden, you’ll find that there are many things to consider. The type of soil, the amount of sunlight, the time of day, and the amount of rainfall. What’s the best way to water a tomato plant?

Watering your garden with a hose is not the best way to do this, as you can overwater your plants or underwater them.

Can Tomato Plants be Cured of Nutrient Deficiencies?

Yes, they can be cured of nutrient deficiencies. You will need to provide the right amount of fertilizer for the plant, however. The nutrients that are deficient in the soil will come out of the leaves, stems, and fruit of the plant.

A nutrient deficiency is a condition in which the plant doesn’t have enough nutrients to live.

What Fertilizer is Best for Tomato Plants?

There is no one fertilizer best for tomato plants, as each variety and soil type will require a different type of fertilizer. However, a general fertilizer recommendation for tomato plants is to use organic fertilizer, such as a compost-based fertilizer.

When is The Best Time to Transplant Tomato Seedlings?

Tomato seedlings can be transplanted anytime after the last expected frost date in your region. Transplants will likely root more quickly and healthily if you do them in early to mid-summer when the soil is warm and the plants are actively growing.

Should I Cut Dead Leaves Off My Tomato Plant?

If you are growing tomatoes it is important to prune off dead leaves from the plants to avoid diseases and pests. Dead leaves can also block sunlight from reaching the plants, leading to foliage burn and stunted growth.

Preventing and Treating Tomato Leaves Turning White

In summary, tomato leaves There are a few things that can be done to prevent tomato leaves from turning white, but there is no surefire way to prevent it.

Treatment options include using a fungicide, watering the plants well, and avoiding excessive nitrogen fertilizer use.

We hope that this post has helped you understand why tomato leaves turn white and how to fix it.