I planted these about 4 weeks ago here in Kentucky, they are in large pots 20×20 in, the foil is on top to guarantee the top layers of potting soil (with fertilizer) don't dry out, I'm not a fan of potting soil but I am to the point now of growing in pots due to arthritis. I only need to water them about once a week right now, but they don't dry out. I check and make sure, frequently. I did prune off all the suckers when they were younger, and I'm now wondering if that might be partly why.
Is there any way to diagnose why these leaves are curling up so badly? Three different varieties, all planted at the same time, there is no yellow on the curling leaves as you can see. Is this something they might grow out of when the weather warms up more? Really hoping for some advice.
by Hefty-Mess-9606
4 Comments
Both too much and too little water can cause leaf curl. However, your issue may be heat – that foil is trapping in all the heat. You might want to try something like mulch as an alternative to aluminum foil
It looks somewhat like the deformed growth that herbicide exposure can cause.
It can come from various sources. Blowing in on the wind, contaminated compost (horse manure is a common culprit where I live), contaminated mulch, etc.
More persistent herbicides have gained popularity in the past decade or so and so home gardeners are seeing this more and more because it can take a few seasons to break down completely.
Beans and tomatoes are particularly susceptible. You can test the soil by planting some beans into it. If they start growing deformed leaves too you can be pretty sure that potting mix is contaminated.
As for if they’ll grow? When I’ve had contamination it was so so. Flowers that developed before the leaves became very deformed were fine but after that no new fruit developed. I got some not many. Are they safe to eat? I figured the food supply chain is full of this stuff already 🤷♀️
You’re cooking the soil. Aluminum is a conductor of heat. Mulch will keep the moisture in while keeping the soil cool.
yeah, our home is a quarter mile from the main road and on 13 acres, no herbicide has been sprayed for months and months, and I’m always very careful to make sure there’s no breeze at all.