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updates | September 01, 2026

Why are my tomato plants leaves turning yellow with brown spots?

One of the common tomato maladies is Septoria leaf spot. It is a fungal disease that affects the leaves, but not the fruit. The first leaves that are affected are typically toward the bottom of the plant. The leaves develop small, dark spots that rapidly enlarge to 0.25 inches and have a tan or gray center.

Should I remove yellow leaves from tomato plant?

ANSWER: Once your tomato plants have reached 12 to 18 inches tall, you may notice that some of the leaves are dying or turning yellow. It's fine to remove those leaves as long as they are below the first set…

How do you get rid of brown spots on tomato plants?

What to do about tomato leaf spots

  1. Pinch off leaves with leaf spots and bury them in the compost pile.
  2. It is okay to remove up to a third of the plant's leaves if you catch the disease early.
  3. Do not remove more than a third of the plant's leaves.
  4. Keep leaves dry to reduce spreading the disease.

How do you treat yellowing on tomato plants?

Tomatoes that don't have enough magnesium will develop yellow leaves with green veins. If you're sure of a magnesium deficiency, try a homemade Epsom salt mixture. Combine two tablespoons of Epsom salt with a gallon of water and spray the mixture on the plant.

What causes yellow leaves with spots on tomato plants?

Overwatering (root rot)

Yellow spots on your tomato plants' leaves alongside soil that is wet or soggy to touch are symptoms of overwatering. When the bottom leaves of the tomato plant start turning yellow, it's an early symptom of overwatering.

42 related questions found

What are the signs of over watering tomato plants?

Early signs of overwatering in tomato plants include cracked fruit and blisters or bumps on the lower leaves. If the overwatering continues, the bumps or blisters on the leaves turn corky. Meanwhile, the roots begin to drown, die and rot, which reduces the amount of water the green part of the plant receives.

How do you treat yellow spots on leaves?

Treatment:

  1. Prune and remove heavily affected leaves. ...
  2. Provide frequent treatment of neem oil or another fungicide to the foliage. ...
  3. Avoid getting water onto the leaves as it recovers.
  4. Keep the plant away from other plants temporarily. ...
  5. Monitor daily to ensure the infection has stopped spreading.

Is Epsom salts good for tomato plants?

Unnecessary additives that are not taken up by plants — including Epsom salt — can contaminate ground water. Adding Epsom salt to the soil tomatoes are growing in can actually promote blossom-end rot, a truly disappointing garden woe. The tomatoes start to bear fruit and then rot on the bottom.

What is the best fertilizer for tomatoes?

Choose a fertilizer that has a balanced ratio of the three major elements, such as 10-10-10, or where the middle number (phosphorus) is larger than the first number (nitrogen), such as 2-3-1. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and usually do need fertilizer unless your soil is very rich.

How do you add nitrogen to tomato plants?

Types of organic fertilizer that are high in nitrogen include animal-based fertilizers such as blood meal, poultry or feather meal, fish meal, kelp meal, bone meal and crab and shrimp meal. Composted manure can be tilled into the first few inches of soil to ensure that the root system receives the much-needed nitrogen.

Should I remove leaves with brown spots?

Leaf spots that are dark brown, slightly sunken and moist-looking may mean your plant has bacterial leaf spot. This isn't good news, unfortunately. Solution: First, isolate your plant so other plants don't get infected. Cut off any leaves with spots on them and let your plant dry out.

Why are the edges of my tomato plant leaves turning brown?

Most commonly brown leaf tips or brown edges on leaves are caused by the plant not getting enough water. There are several reasons why this may happen. There may be too little natural water falling. If this is what is causing the sides of the leaf to turn brown, you should supplement the rainfall with manual watering.

How do you treat brown spots on leaves?

Water-soaked black and brown spots on plant leaves and stems often indicate a fungal or bacterial disease is the problem. Adjust the watering schedule and do not allow plants to sit in excess water. Often that alone is enough to stop the disease's progress. Remove and dispose of any soft, discolored stems and leaves.

Can tomatoes get too much sun?

Tomato Sunscald: Why Too Much Sun Can Be Hazardous to Your Tomatoes' Health. Tomato sunscald is a problem caused by growing conditions – specifically intense, direct sunlight for extended periods during very hot weather. The excessive sunlight discolors patches on ripening or green tomatoes.

Should I remove brown leaves from tomato plant?

ANSWER: Once your tomato plants have reached 12 to 18 inches tall, you may notice that some of the leaves are dying or turning yellow. It's fine to remove those leaves as long as they are below the first set…

Why are my tomato leaves curling and turning brown?

High winds, blowing dust and low humidity can damage the leaves and stems on tomato plants. Heat and low moisture can cause the edges of the tomato leaves to die back, then twist and curl. Hot dry weather may also cause a symptom called physiological leaf roll.

Is Miracle Grow good for tomatoes?

Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Tomato Plant Food instantly feeds to grow bigger, more bountiful tomatoes and vegetables compared to unfed plants. Use our plant food with the Miracle-Gro® Garden Feeder or any watering can, and feed every 1-2 weeks. Safe for all plants when used as directed.

Do coffee grounds help tomato plants?

Coffee grounds contain around 2% nitrogen as well as varying amounts of phosphorus and potassium which are all very important for the growth of tomato plants. By mixing some coffee grounds into the soil below your tomato plants you're introducing these nutrients that the plants need to thrive.

Can you grow 2 tomato plants together?

Tomatoes planted too closely together may be more likely to develop problems, such as: Disease – A lot of plant diseases flourish on moist leaves. If tomatoes are planted so closely together that sunlight and air can't dry out the leaves, the plants will be more likely to develop harmful diseases.

How often should I put Epsom salt on my tomato plants?

The ideal solution ratio is 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt per foot of plant height. If your tomato plant is two feet in height, you'll be feeding it two tablespoons of Epsom salt at least twice a month! Once on the 15th and another on the 30th would be perfect. For other plants, the general rule is once every six weeks.

Is baking soda good for tomato plants?

The baking soda absorbs into the soil and lowers its acidity levels giving you tomatoes that are more sweet than tart. Although I haven't done this with every plant on my patio, having a few extra sweet nuggets to mix into a fresh tomato salad has been a wonderful discovery!

What does aspirin do for tomato plants?

This defense response is a naturally occurring internal plant process that can be started manually (so to speak) by spraying your tomato plants with aspirin. The salicylic acid in the aspirin will trigger the tomato's defenses, by mimicking the natural hormone, as if it were being attacked.

What nutrient deficiency causes yellow leaves?

Manganese deficiency causes yellowing between the veins of new foliage.

Why is my plant getting yellow spots?

Water and Nutrients

The Garden Helper explains that underwatering, overwatering, and nutrient imbalances (specifically nitrogen, magnesium and iron) cause plants to develop yellow spots.

Why are there yellow spots on my leaves?

Leaf Blight is caused by a fungus and can cause brown and yellow spots all over the leaves. Leaves can eventually die and fall off. If left untreated, Leaf Blight can kill your whole plant. To treat, you can use a garden fungicide.