Tomato plants attract a lot of pests and bugs, but curly leaves on tomato plants are mostly due to other reasons. In this article, I will explain what causes tomato leaves to curl and how to treat it, with pictures.
I talked to my gardener friends and visited their gardens. You will be shocked that I found this leaf curl issue in most of those gardens.
When I asked my aunt, she said, "I will say that I’m having the same problem, and I have been doing research, and there are so many people who are dealing with the same problem. I really think it’s weather-related."
I looked at the curly tomato leaves carefully, and I found that there are different kinds of curly leaves.
The causes might be any of these:
- Physiological Leaf Roll (The Most Common, but people ignore this the most)
- Watering issues (both under and overwatering)
- Virus
- Herbicide Damage
On GardenVive, I don’t just list multiple possible causes for an issue and leave readers to figure it out themselves. I help them identify the most likely cause with proper explanation and photos (if I take them in my garden).
Let's talk about the causes and treatments
Physiological Leaf Roll of the Tomato Plant
This is the most common for tomato plants, but the least to worry about.
Symptoms: The tomato plant will start showing curly leaves (both inward and upward) from the bottom of the plant. The plant will be healthy and green, and the leaves are gonna feel leathery.
I said your plant should look healthy. But this leaf curl is due to environmental stress or even transplant shock.
Note: Too much nitrogen and heavy feeding can also cause leaf curl (upward). The leaves will be leathery and healthy obviously.
This is not a big deal for the plant. You will get a good amount of tomatoes as well.
What to do?
Just let the soil dry in between two waterings. Water deeply. That's all...
Tomato leaves are curling due to inappropriate watering
An underwatered tomato plant will show curly leaves that are gonna curl upward and inward. But an overwatered tomato plant will show only downward-curly leaves (sometimes slightly twisted). The plant is gonna turn yellow soon if you do not stop watering immediately and let the soil dry.
If your tomato plant is underwatered, the plant leaves will curl to reduce the surface area exposed to the sun. This helps to reduce transpiration just to save water. It's a survival tactic.
I do not get worried if my tomato plant is underwatered, as I can water deeply to recover the plant. But an overwatered plant is hard to recover.
I do not need to tell what to do if the leaf curl is due to the watering issue. You know that already.
Leaf curl on tomato plants due to virus infection
Have you ever heard of TYLCV? It's Tomato yellow leaf curl virus.
And ToMV / TMV - It's Tomato Mosaic Virus.
These two are different viruses, but both cause curly leaves on tomato plants.
How to identify?
Along with curled leaves, the new leaves will not grow properly or be stunted. You will clearly see the plant is diseased. The edges of the leaf will turn yellowish.
The plant may lose its dark green color.
Now the hardest part to hear:
There is nothing you can do once your tomato plant is infected by ToMV / TMV or TYLCV. Just pull out your plant and throw it away (far from your garden and others' gardens)
The virus spreads from whiteflies and aphids.
You can check this guide: How to get rid of whiteflies on plants and how to get rid of aphids.
Herbicide damage and curly leaves on tomato plants
The picture you are seeing here is an herbicide-damaged tomato plant from my garden. My wife mistakenly sprayed herbicide on my tomato plant.
Due to the herbicide, the leaves will curl and turn brown. The curly leaves may look like they are burned.
Cut the affected leaves and wait for them to recover. It will decrease the tomato production. Water properly, and it will be fine.
A heavily affected plant may die.
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