White leaves on tomato seedlings can indicate a disorder.
Tomatoes are one of the most common garden plants. Tomatoes are cold-sensitive plants with long growing seasons, making them suitable for starting indoors in many climates. These fruits grow well in average garden soils and containers. Unfortunately, their fragile nature can make transplanting difficult. White leaves in new transplants can signal a disorder that requires treatment. Does this Spark an idea?
Sun Damage
The most common cause of leaves turning white in young tomato transplants is due to intense sunlight. Tomato plants require full sunlight for optimal growth, but going directly from the inside environment to the outdoor setting can shock the plant and damage the tender leaves. Damage due to the sun usually appears as white borders around the leaf edges, especially along the most exposed leaves. The edges may curl and break, leaving a plant with minimal foliage.
Soil Nutrients
Poor soils with inadequate levels of nutrients can lead to pale leaves with white spots. This can show up within two to three weeks of transplanting tomato seedlings outdoors. Nitrogen and phosphorous deficiencies are the likely culprits in plants with white leaves. Previously green leaves that gradually turn white is a common symptom of a nutritional deficiency.
Disease
Like many other varieties of garden plants, tomatoes may suffer from illness. Alternaria is a type of blight that can cause healthy leaves to turn yellow or white. Too much moisture in the soil can lead to fungal conditions that slow the growth of the plants and cause the leaves to lose their color. Leaves that display dark borders around the white spots can signal the presence of Septoria leaf spot.
Care
Quick treatment is imperative to the health of young tomato seedlings. These plants seldom have adequate reserves to withstand environmental challenges. Tomato seedlings require hardening-off, a process that gradually acclimates young seedlings to outdoor environments. Placing the seedlings in the sun for a few hours each day over the period of one or two weeks helps minimize transplantation shock and sun damage. Amending poor soils before transplanting the tomatoes helps ensure adequate nutrients. Work vegetative compost into the top 8 to 12 inches of soil to help provide a healthy environment. Keeping the soil slightly moist, not wet, encourages optimal growth and helps reduce the risk of fungal diseases. If treatment is necessary, select fungicides labeled for use on tomato plants.
Tags: borders around, cause leaves, garden plants, most common, optimal growth
