The internet's tomato troubleshooting desk
What Did Your Tomato Do?
Something gone wrong with your tomatoes? Good. You've come to the right place.
Whether they're curling, cracking, wilting, refusing to ripen or simply looking deeply disappointed in you, we'll help you work out what happened — and what to do next.
Six places to look
What's Wrong?
Start with the bit that's misbehaving.
Fruit
Something's wrong with my tomatoes.
Black bottoms • Cracking • Won't ripen • Tiny fruit
Leaves
My tomato leaves look terrible.
Curling • Yellow • Brown • Spotted • Wilting
Flowers
I've got flower problems.
Flowers falling off • No fruit • No flowers
Whole Plant
The entire plant looks miserable.
Dying • Wilting • Not growing • Too tall
Something's Eating It
There are holes, bugs or mysterious damage.
Caterpillars • Aphids • Whiteflies • Mystery pests
I Think I've Killed It
I may have done something stupid.
Overwatered • Underwatered • Overfed • Overpruned
Confession time
Okay. What Did You Do?
No judgement. Well… maybe a little.
- I overwatered it
- I forgot to water it
- I gave it too much fertiliser
- I planted it in a tiny pot
- I planted them ridiculously close together
- I pruned first and Googled afterwards
- I forgot to stake it
- I left it cooking in extreme heat
Tomatoes are remarkably forgiving. Sometimes. Let's see what we can rescue.
Most read
Popular Tomato Disasters
Why Are My Tomato Leaves Curling?
Rolled up like cigars? Usually heat or water stress, not a death sentence.
Why Are My Tomato Leaves Turning Yellow?
Bottom leaves first? Different problem to top leaves first. Start here.
Why Are My Tomatoes Black on the Bottom?
Blossom end rot. It's a watering problem wearing a calcium costume.
Why Aren’t My Tomatoes Turning Red?
Ripening is about temperature, not sunlight. Stop pulling off leaves.
Why Are My Tomato Flowers Falling Off?
Blossom drop is nearly always temperature. Rarely your fault.
Before You Dig It Up…
Tomato plants can look spectacularly unhappy without actually being doomed.
Heat, inconsistent watering, nutrient problems, pests and ordinary environmental stress can make a perfectly salvageable plant look like it's preparing for the compost heap. Before you pull it out, identify the symptoms.
Keep Your Tomatoes Alive
Occasional tomato-growing tips, problem fixes and seasonal reminders.
No spam. Your tomatoes already have enough problems.
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