4 Reasons Why Tomatillo Leaves Turning Yellow
Melissa Johnson
Growing tomatillos is a great way to have one of the essential ingredients for many dishes, especially Mexican, right in your garden.
Plus, they are very easy to grow, produce a lot of fruits, and don’t require particularly intensive care.
However, there are some potential issues with growing tomatillos you should be aware of.
One of the most common problems you may face when growing this plant is the tomatillo leaves turning yellow.
While this process may sometimes be perfectly natural, it can also be a reason for concern.
In this article, I will explore some of the most common reasons why tomatillo leaves may turn yellow, and how to address each issue.
I will also discuss some preventative measures that you can take to ensure the health and productivity of your tomatillo plants.
So let’s dive in and learn about the reasons why tomatillo leaves are turning yellow!
Table of Contents
Reasons Why Tomatillo Leaves Turning Yellow
There are several potential reasons why the leaves of your tomatillo may be turning yellow.
Some of them are beyond control and some happen due to improper maintenance and can be easily prevented.
Therefore, it’s important to understand why this may happen and learn what steps to take to minimize the risks.
Overwatering
If you notice that the leaves of your tomatillo are turning yellow, the most probable cause is improper watering.
Foliage discoloration can happen both because of too much water and the lack of it.
While tomatillo needs regular watering, you’ll need to be careful not to overdo it, as too much water can clog the soil, hindering the plant’s access to oxygen and nutrients, and causing root asphyxiation.
Too long exposure to watering will make the leaves turn yellow and eventually fall off.
It can even lead to the entire plant dying out. Overwatering can also activate soil fungi, causing root rot.
To prevent this from happening, always wait until the soil is dry before adding new water.
If the leaves are already yellow, inspect the root for rot and, if the process has already started, transplant your tomatillo to a new pot.
Underwatering
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The lack of water is also dangerous for tomatillos and can lead to leaves turning yellow.
Tomatillo is really resistant to drought, but will eventually have its leaves turn yellow after a longer period without water.
Striking the right balance and avoiding under and overwatering can be tricky, so make sure to regularly check the soil.
In general, tomatillo needs about an inch of water per week.
The Lack of Sunlight or Too Much of It
The tomatillo often reacts to changes in lighting conditions by having its leaves turn yellow.
Keeping the plant in too dark and cold a spot for too long will result in the discoloration of its foliage, while its stems may become thinner and brittle.
This happens because the plant is not getting enough light to drive photosynthesis.
On the other hand, exposure to too much sunlight will make the leaves crispy when you touch them and have them eventually change color and turn yellowish.
To avoid this, the tomatillo plant should be kept in a spot where it can get the optimal amount of sunlight.
Find a place where it won’t be directly exposed to the blazing sunlight, but also won’t be in complete shade.
Diseases
Yellow tomatillo leaves can also point to a more serious issue, such as fungal infection.
If this is the case, the discoloration will likely be less uniform, with uneven distribution and pattern.
Fungal infection can happen at any stage of the tomatillo’s growth and, besides yellow leaves, can cause poor yields and weakening of the bush.
These diseases commonly start in the soil, where the dormant fungi can activate and attack the plant.
Therefore, fungal infection is not that easy to deal with and will often require removing and discarding the diseased plant to stop the infection from spreading to other plants.
Conclusion
As you can see, in most cases, the yellow leaves on your tomatillo are not the reason for great concern.
However, it doesn’t mean that you should ignore them.
As the yellow leaves most commonly occur due to poor maintenance, a slight adjustment in how you care for your plant should do the trick.
However, it’s important to learn about everything that can cause tomatillo leaves to turn yellow and how to identify the culprit.
Understanding the potential causes can help you react to the potential issue on time and prevent the more serious problems that can lead to your tomatillo dying out.
