Thin and Dwarfed Plants

by Tom McL.
(New Jersey)

My father planted his tomato plants on May 20. The plants are very thin and most of the leaves at the top are very curly but very green. Most of the plants seem dwarfed as well, but are bearing fruit. He is using Miracle Gro Tomato Plant Food and waters it every three or four days for several hours each time.

He has had a lot of success with his garden for the last 30+ years. He isn't doing anything different than he did in the past and is now wondering what exactly is happening.

He also has eggplant, peppers and beans in the same garden that are growing absolutely perfectly.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.


Doug says it sounds like a severe aphid infestation when the plants were young and you now have a viral infection. Some times the plants grow out of these things - some times not.

Alternately, it could also be spider mites now - crippling the growing tips.

There are a few feeding things that sometimes produce very dark green leaves but these are mostly trace element problems. Soak the plants with fish emulsion (at the right mix and strength) and see if this corrects it. If this doesn't do it - and you can't find an insect, then I'm afraid you're whipped on these plants for this year. Watch your seedling source and cleanliness for next year - crop rotate! for sure.

Let me know how it works out