Help - discolored and curling leaves (photo)

15 years ago

I am growing indeterminates in Earthboxes which were set out 2 weeks ago. About a week ago I the lower leaves starting getting this brown discoloration that affects both sides of the leaves and progressively gets darker. The leaves that have had it the longest are now starting to curl (see photos). I think it's spreading from the older leaves to the younger ones up top and also to the plants in the next Earthbox. Fearing a fungal disease, I did start spraying with Daconil a week ago, and I can't yet tell if this has halted the spread.

I should also note that we had 2 or 3 days of suddenly cool and wet weather, with highs only in the upper 50s, but before and after that it's been warm and sunny.

I have looked at all the usual online photos of foliage problems and this one has me both stumped and worried, given how young the seedlings are. I can't tell if it's a disease or a physiologic problem and I am desperately hoping the wise people here can identify the problem. Thank you all.

p.s. additional photo is linked below - this is a leaf in an earlier stage of the problem.

Image link:

Here is a link that might be useful:

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

jean001
15 years ago
Not a contagious disease. Instead, environmental stress, likely from the uneven weather pattern.
eric02138
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks very much for the reply. The weather has evened out, so I am hoping this will correct itself.
Related Professionals
Edmond Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Maple Valley Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Forest City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Wilmington Landscape Contractors · Maple Valley Landscape Contractors · Fort Hunt Landscape Contractors · Golden Gate Landscape Contractors · Hicksville Landscape Contractors · North Ridgeville Landscape Contractors · River Ridge Landscape Contractors · Columbus Siding & Exteriors · Denton Siding & Exteriors · Littleton Siding & Exteriors · Orem Siding & Exteriors · Overland Park Siding & Exteriors
browncow17
15 years ago
I'm having the same exact problem with my Anna Russian Heirloom - I was going to pull the plant for fear it would effect all of my other plants. Is your plant any better since sunday? I read another thread here, she had the same problem - same look on her plants - she used safer and seaweed (she's on the west coast) and it seemed to clear it up. I'm going back to the woman that i bought the plant from w/your pict. If she says anything different I'll let you know - but I'm hoping Jean001 is right! we've had very cool and then terribly hot weather recently (it's about 100 today), but supposed to level off tomorrow thankfully.
eric02138
Original Author
15 years ago
I am 95% sure this damage was caused by my spraying with Daconil in full sun, twice -- causing leaf burn. The damage simply didn't match up with any of the extensive pictures of foliage diseases I looked up, and finally I realized that my "cure" was probably the problem.

Yes, I knew I shouldn't have disobeyed the label instructions about not applying in full sun, but I'd gotten away with it in the past on bigger plants so I got careless. The apparent "spread" of the damage was simply due to the repeated applications. I stopped spraying in full sun and have not observed any progression of the problem.

My plants are now doing fine, but I will be more careful in the future!