curled tomato leaves

Hi someone once told me that curled tomato leaves meant something was wrong but I can't remember. Anyone know?

nevermind folks I found the classic post

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/57947/

So what's the answer? I have curling tomato leaves too.
Tomanjo

Could be spider mites, hornworms, or leaf miners.

I have no idea. I saw a few small flies flying around today so maybe leafminer? I have never seen any type of worm in the garden at all. So I ordered green lacewings and a few mantis eggs, we'll see what happens.

Thanks, all
I guessed maybe spider mites. I saw a tiny red sphere lowering from the plant to the ground and squashed it. I tried spraying the leaves with water, on top and underneath, but the Goliath plant continues to decline and I think it's spreading. Big Beef now has a few curled leaves. With Goliath, it's the upper leaves. Top half of the plant is now affected. Suggestions?? HELP.

RATFOOD - Aphids will suck the life out of leaves, which can make them curl.

Maybe it's the aphids then. I think it got too hot for the ladybugs I let out a week or two ago, I only see a few each day. They says the green lacewings do much better in the hot weather so i'm giving those a shot. After looking at pics up in here I do not think it's leafminers.

Tomanjo you got aphids too?

I had some spider mites that were causing the leaves on one of my plants to curl.

Days like this and I wonder why I wanted to garden this year....

Ratfood,
no aphids. (Yet.)

StephanieTx
What did you do for the spider mites??? I tried some organic peppermint/garlic oil spray on my big Golath. It appears to have walloped the plant.I think it's a goner. I have 5 plants left that are allstarting to show some signs of leaf curl.

Huge problem #2: Soil
My top soil, even heavily amended with compost, was too heavy, so I splurged and bought 10 yards of amended top soil. 75% top soil, 25% compost. Looks great. Add water and welcome to MUD. I added perlite and some peat. Didn't help. I don't know what to do. I've been struggling to get this new garden ready for weeks now.

I need to get my seeds in and I don't know what to do with the soil. My tomatoes are still in big pots but ready to transplant if the mites(?) don't do them in.
Could the tomato leaf curl be due to too heavy soil??

Colorado gardening is usually a challenge, but this year is unreal!

For spider mites, I used a concoction of liquid seaweed, compost tea, liquid molasses and apple cider vinegar. Spray every 3 days for 9 days. I have to do my 2nd application today. I think the rain we had washed away the effects of the 1st application. Either that or it brought more ripe conditions for spider mites.

Your leaf curl may also be from the plants outgrowing their current containers.

I think the best solution to your soil problem is to buy about 5 yds of plain coarse compost, add in some leaves and maybe dry grass clippings if you have some. Then take out about half of the topsoil you added (save for another project) and add in the 5 yds of compost. Look for a compost like cotton burr. Also, adding about 1 yd. of lava sand (if you can find it in your area) will help drain the soil.

Thanks, Stephanie

What's lava sand and where do you get it? Would coarse construction sand work? Will the added compost be too much nitrogen?

Equal parts of molasses, seaweeed andaple cider vinegar?
Dilution?

I forgot I also added compost tea to the mix of spray. Here's the recipe:

Compost Tea~follow directions on label-OR-use 1 Cup if you have homemade compost tea
Seaweed~1oz/gal
Molasses~1 oz/gal
Apple Cider Vinegar~1 oz/gal

Put in a spray bottle or sprayer and apply.

I mix it in a 1 gal milk jug and pierce the lid with a pin/small nail to leave a vent because it needs to breathe.

I've found lava sand before at Lowe's so you might check there if you have one in your area. I've never looked at Home Depot, but it's worth a try. Places sell it online as well.

http://www.arbico-organics.com/1442503.html

tomanjo-I have decided that God invented Spider mites simply to frustrate me. They can take down a plant in a few days they literally suck the life out of it in a couple of days making the leaves dry and crispy. Sometimes you can see the webbing but not always. Anyway, I use Neem oil and you have you drench the top and underside of the leaves. Anytime I have aplant that starts getting dry crunchy leaves that is the first thing I think of.
Lisa

Thanks all.
I'll try the suggestions and we'll see how it all works out.
Fingers crossed in Colorado!

OK after the rain let off I bought more ladybugs (released), spider-mite predators(released), green lacewings (released but I saw only 1 alive out of the 1000 eggs I bought - sigh), and mantis (not hatched yet)... I kind of let things go at that point (I was frustrated)... Well, I went to the garden today and saw my first red tomato! (HOLY MOLY!)... The cukes had a bee pollinating and about a dozen baby cukes growing . The tomato plants that werent producing now have about 20 baby matos on them! (Oh and most importantly the tomato leaves are no longer curling!!) There are (at least) 3 cobs of corn growing, and the pumpkin plants got so big that they are taking over my horseshoe pit. I tell you, I was about to throw in the towel, now I am dancing in the rows! Thanks folks~

That's great Ratfood! Let's hope it's a trend and it spreads to Colorado. By the by, what eats spider mites?

I spray a mixture of compost tea, liquid molasses, apple cider vinegar, liquid seaweed & maybe something else every 3 days for 9 days to help with spider mites. You can probably get away with just the liquid seaweed and water spray, though.

Ratfood-so many bugs, love your user name we have 3 pet rats so it caught my eye.

Tomanjo Here is what i gots!!:

http://naturescontrol.com/mite.html#tt

soil problems warning

Before I purchased 10 yards of amended soil (25% organic compost, 75% sandy loam), I asked the seller for a soil analysis. The one he gave me he said was last years, but nothing had changed so it should be about the same. When I had problems, I took a soil sample in to the state lab. Guess what.

The salt level was 4.5 (not the 1.4 it was supposed to be)
The nitrate level was 3 times what it should have been and the potassium level was 2790.4.

Our state lab said that people call frequently with similar problems. There is no regulation on what the nutrient levels are in compost or soils for sale.

I will have to shovel out my raised beds and dilute the mix by at least half, and my beds are 40 inches high.

So, for what it's worth, have a current soil test that you yourself take to a reputable lab. I'm so mad I could just scream.