the tomatoes leaves are turning yellow from the bottom of the plant to the top ... they were planted in a *reclaimed* floral bed, plant growing area -- that was covered with red (presumably, redwood, but not sure!) bark ... the area has been rototilled, treated with preeen (about three weeks after the toms were in the ground), they are watered, but not over-watered and i fed them the prescribed dose of *alaska fish fertilizer* (that i have used for years with great success on tomatoes and all the other garden veggies.)

so, could it be the bark, and if that's it, what to do???

thanks so much .... darlene

Over-watering is the #1 cause by far, nutrient deficiency is the #2 cause, and #3 is disease.

9 times out of 10 those who claim they are not over-watering discover that yes they really were once they cut back on it and the plant improves.

Soil that contains a great deal of decomposing wood chips in it has most of the soil nitrogen bound up in the decomposition process so is not available to the plants. Large amounts of extra nitrogen often needs to be added to compensate. Fish emulsion fertilizer, even when used on a weekly basis, is still a very low dose nitrogen fertilizer.

Vegetable garden soil treated with Preen, especially after transplanting, causes all sorts of problems for the plants. Can't say I have ever heard of that being recommended by anyone. Tomato plants just don't tolerate weed killers of any kind. They are one of the most susceptible plants there is to weed killer damage.

Then there are the diseases that causes yellowing of leaves, primarily Early Blight.

Dave

The remedy: Add fast-acting nitrogen fert.