How to Identify Common Nutrient Deficiencies in Tomato Plants

Like other plants, tomatoes are subject to the adverse effects of lack of proper nutrition. Nutritional deficiency in Tomatoes results in poor quality, reduced production yields, discoloration, and poor appearance.

Other factors like the environment might cause these negative effects. But, nutrition still plays a very important role in the overall health of tomatoes.

And just like other plants, tomatoes require a vast number of nutrients for proper and healthy growth.

Here's a quick overview of the nutrient deficiencies in tomatoes. They are an explanation of why your tomatoes are not at their best.

Nitrogen Deficiency

What does nitrogen deficiency in tomatoes look like?

If you are an observant farmer, you will see that the older leaves will slowly turn to a pale green from having a dark green color.

As the deficiency continues, the older leaves gradually become chlorotic (uniformly yellow). Finally, under extreme deficiency, the older leaves will start to have a yellowish-white color.

The younger leaves on the other side become smaller but maintain a pale green color. Nitrogen-deficient tomatoes appear to be spindly because there's reduced branching.

This yellowing of the plant is uniform from the leaves to the stem, including the veins.

Tip: To address the Nitrogen deficiency problem for your tomatoes, you can apply a 2% of urea solution. You can also conduct a soil test and apply a urea dressing according to the soil test.

Phosphorus Deficiency

Phosphorus Deficiency in tomatoes causes them to develop slowly, resulting in dwarfed and stunted plants. In addition, the plants will greatly slow down and take a lot of time to mature. Tomatoes that lack phosphorus develop some necrotic spots on the leaves too.

Under severe Phosphorus deficiency, the plants develop a purplish color on the petiole, under the leaves, and on the plant's stem.

The plant will develop a grey luster color if the deficiency continues to be severe.

Manganese Deficiency

The symptoms of manganese deficiency in tomatoes start to show mottled chlorotic parts. It then develops interveinal chlorosis in its advanced stage.

Potassium Deficiency

This deficiency can be identified on the leaves' edges as burns. The old leaves will be the first to show potassium deficiency. They will start to show some chlorosis while the leaf veins will remain dark green.

Caution: A potassium deficiency in tomatoes is so adverse that it can go as far as negatively affecting the fruit during its ripening stage. So if possible, it is advisable to inhibit this deficiency in time.

Calcium Deficiency

In tomatoes, calcium deficiency is depicted as interveinal chlorosis. This is in the early stages of calcium deficiency.

As the deficiency continues, it is further seen as blossom end rot. Sometimes many farmers mistake this as a tomato plant disease while it is a deficiency. This deficiency is most damaging because it damages the fruit before it matures.

Sulfur Deficiency

Sulfur deficiency in tomatoes is easily noticed by looking at the stem. The plant's stem will be thinner, and its color will change to purple.

Apart from the plant's stem, you can take a look at the leaves. The leaves will show a light green color when under sulfur deficiency.

Copper Deficiency

When you see wilting on the younger tomato leaves, you will notice a copper deficiency in tomatoes. Additionally, the leaves will start to curl upwards while showing a green or blue color.

Iron Deficiency

This deficiency affects the younger tomato plant leaves and is seen as interveinal chlorosis. If the iron deficiency in tomatoes continues, the leaves will become yellow.

Surprisingly, the midrib of the leaves stays unaffected and remains green.

Zinc Deficiency

Zinc deficiency in tomatoes is seen when leaves begin to curl upwards. At the same time, the leaves will start to have a brownish or orange color.

How Do You Fix Nutrient Deficiency in Tomatoes?

All plants need enough nutrients for healthy growth. If you see any nutrient deficiency in your tomatoes, you must take urgent measures to avoid damaging your harvest.

The best way to solve a nutrient deficiency is by injecting the soil with the needed nutrients. You can also add a good NPK fertilizer containing three most common nutrients plants need.

Caution: Note that you may overdose your plants with a particular nutrient. Even in response to a specific deficiency, it is always a good idea to ensure that your plants have the nutrients they need.

However, if you are an staunch organic farmer, these two ideas would not be the best ideas for you.

So, what are the organic solutions to reduce the lack of nutrients in your tomatoes? Let's dive into some organic ways you need to consider.

Comfrey leaf tea

This one is a good organic option especially because it brings up some nutrients from the deepest parts of the earth. Comfrey leaf tea also grows quickly and so in the same way, it will bring up the nutrients fast enough. You cut the leaves store them in a good bottle with water.

Alternatively, you can find a container mix with urine to create a foul smell most plants love.

Seaweed Liquid Feed

Seaweed liquid might be costly, but it has the nutrients needed for your tomatoes. It also has lots of Potassium good good for growing plants.

You will dilute a whole cup of seaweed liquid feed in your watering can. Apply it to the leaves of the ant. It works best on leaves because it may not be swept away like in the case if it were applied to the soil.

Leaf Feeds

This is useful for Nitrogen deficiency in tomatoes because it contains lots of Nitrogen. You can also incorporate urine into this to make it more nutritious for your tomato plants.

Final Remarks

When our bodies as humans lack some important nutrients, you can easily tell by how the body functions. It is the same with plants; if they lack some nutrients, they will show up and not in a really positive look.

So it is important that you only give your tomatoes enough of all the nutrients they need. Be careful that you do not give them too much or too less of the nutrients.