Hello all,

This is my first year trying. Tomatoes in bags and they are doing ok but looking a bit stressed. One out of them has always looked a bit wimpy and the others are starting to curl their leaves.

I got some beefsteak seedlings from a friend and started them a bit late. I am using 10 gal grow bags with compost from a local store and mixed in some grow stuff (picture shown). I water them late morning daily with a shower mode spray nozzle from my hose. I thoroughly soak them until water starts coming out the bottom.

They are in just about full sun up on my deck. I am also pinching off suckers and I see them.

Any thoughts on why they look stressed? Should I now be watering twice a day (in VA and days in the 80's and 90's F now). Do I need more or different feed? Are they getting too hot in the grow bags? Are the grow bags too small?

Trying to pinpoint the stress point. Any advice helps!

"Compost from a local store" - do you mean a potting mix? I ask because frequently they contain fertilizer which you have then supplemented with additional fertilizer.

However, my initial very broad guess leans to over watering. You say you soak them every morning - do you check to see if they need water? Tomatoes don't want their feet in constantly wet soil. Ideally you should only water them when the soil has a l m o s t dried out. Easy to check using your finger to a depth of a couple of inches...often the soil at the top of a container looks (or is) dry because of exposure to sun, air and air movement while the soil beneath is not.

As a start I would hold off watering until you are sure the plant needs it. Others will likely have more and better answers.

JBarstool said:"Compost from a local store" - do you mean a potting mix? I ask because frequently they contain fertilizer which you have then supplemented with additional fertilizer.

However, my initial very broad guess leans to over watering. You say you soak them every morning - do you check to see if they need water? Tomatoes don't want their feet in constantly wet soil. Ideally you should only water them when the soil has a l m o s t dried out. Easy to check using your finger to a depth of a couple of inches...often the soil at the top of a container looks (or is) dry because of exposure to sun, air and air movement while the soil beneath is not.

As a start I would hold off watering until you are sure the plant needs it. Others will likely have more and better answers.

It was bagged organic compost potting mix. I don't believe this variety had any fertilizer in it. And I'll check the soil next time and make sure it's dry. I assumed I was under watering but I'll triple check deeper into the soil this time!