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Glam Monitor

Why tomato leaves turning yellow after transplanting?

Author

David Ramirez

Updated on August 01, 2026

If a plant isn't getting enough water, especially if the heat is high, the leaves may become scorched and turn yellow. This is a common problem in transplanted plants because the roots aren't anchored properly and drawing water the way they do in a more established plant.

Why are my newly planted tomato plants turning yellow?

The most common reason why the leaves on established tomato plants turn yellow is a lack of nutrients in the soil. Tomatoes are extremely heavy feeders and require plenty of nutrients to grow healthy and be fruitful. Signs of nutrient deficiency often start low on the tomato plant.

Can tomato plants recover from transplant shock?

Doing so builds up a bigger and stronger root system, as their vigorous taproots can grow up to 1 inch per day. While tomatoes may suffer a small amount of transplant shock, they recover quickly and transplanting ultimately stimulates their growth.

How do you revive tomato plants after transplant?

Wilting After Transplanting Tomato Plants

If you're moving the plants outside into an open, sunny area, cover them with newspaper or another lightweight, opaque material during the hottest part of the day for a week or so to protect them while they adjust.

How do you fix yellow leaves on tomato plants?

The leaves begin to turn yellow due to lack of oxygen, and the plant slowly drowns. Treatment: If a layer of mulch covers the soil near the base of the tomato plant, remove it carefully for a few days. Let the soil exposed to the sunlight and airflow. Trim the access leaves from the plant.

43 related questions found

Can you save a tomato plant with yellow leaves?

The shock can cause the bottom few leaves of the plant to turn yellow. Luckily, this is just a short phase of adjustment. As long as the new growth is green and healthy, there is no cause for alarm. The yellow leaves will eventually drop off and the plant will return to good health.

Can a yellow leaf turn green again?

Chlorophyll gives a leaf its green color. When the leaf loses its chlorophyll, the plant abandons it and begins to absorb leftover nutrients from the leaf. That's why once the leaf turns yellow, you generally can't make it turn back green again.

How do you treat a tomato transplant shock?

Keep roots moist – Keep the soil well-watered, but make sure that the plant has good drainage and is not in standing water. Wait patiently – Sometimes a plant just needs a few days to recover from transplant shock. Give it some time and care for it as you normally would and it may come back on its own.

Why do tomato plants wilt when transplanted?

Wilting is typically associated with a lack of water, which could very well be the case. Make sure you water new transplants well the first week after transplanting into the garden. Wilting could also be due to very high temperatures.

How long does it take for tomatoes to grow after transplant?

After transplanting young plants to their final growing spot, it usually takes anywhere from 60 days to more than 100 days before you can harvest your tomatoes. Before growing varieties of tomatoes outside, the first thing to do is make sure you live in a tomato-friendly climate.

What happens if you transplant tomatoes too early?

Planting too early causes a whole host of problems for tender, young tomato plants. From potential frost and freeze damage, to rot and mold. Allow warmer weather to settle in so that soil temperatures can heat up as well. Don't rush planting those transplants until the soil has warmed.

What is the best time of day to transplant tomatoes?

The Tomato Gardening Guru website advises that cool, cloudy days are best for transplanting tomatoes into the home garden. Gardeners should plant in the morning, to keep tomatoes from drying or suffering during the process.

Why are my tomato leaves curling and turning yellow?

Curling or rolling of tomato leaves may be caused by various factors, including environmental stresses, viral infection, and herbicide damage.

What is the best fertilizer for tomatoes?

Choose a fertilizer that has a balanced ratio of the three major elements, such as 10-10-10, or where the middle number (phosphorus) is larger than the first number (nitrogen), such as 2-3-1. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and usually do need fertilizer unless your soil is very rich.

How do you fix yellow leaves on plants?

Houseplant Help: How to Save a Plant Whose Leaves are Turning...

  1. Step 1: Check for “Moisture Stress” ...
  2. Step 2: Look for Unwelcome Critters. ...
  3. Step 3: Let Them Soak Up the Sun. ...
  4. Step 4: Protect Them from Cold Drafts. ...
  5. Step 5: Make Sure They're Well-Fed.

What happens if you transplant too early?

What happens if you transplant seedlings too early? If they are transplanted too early, seedlings are at a much greater risk of dying from a late spring cold snap. Even hardy starts will likely die if the temperature goes below freezing for any length of time.

How long does it take for a plant to recover from transplant shock?

Some plants can take a very long period of time before they can recover from transplant shock while other plants can quickly recover within a week or months. For instance, vegetables can recover from the shock after 2-4 weeks of transplanting.

Is it normal for plants to wilt after transplanting?

Packing up your plant and moving it to a new home can damage its roots and strain the plant. In many cases, plants that begin to droop and droop after a transplant are only suffering from minor transplant shock. These plants usually recover and perk up after a few days of care unless they are replanted incorrectly.

How long does transplant shock last in plants?

Transplant shock is difficult to predict and could last anywhere from two weeks to five years. There are a couple of ways to avoid the issue altogether, though, especially for gardeners who are willing to take the time to research their plants and identify how and when transplanting should be done.

Should I cut yellow leaves off?

If you have a few yellow leaves that look unappealing and bother you, it's okay to snip them off. But it isn't necessary. If you have a lot of yellow leaves, you're better off finding the problem and fixing it – such as overwatering or not enough sunlight.

What nutrient deficiency causes yellow leaves?

Manganese deficiency causes yellowing between the veins of new foliage.

What yellow leaves mean?

Yellowing leaves on plants may often be a sign of too little or too much water or nutrients which can affect plant performance. Your plant may also be located in too much light where it is scorching, or too little light where it is fading due to an inability to photosynthesize properly.

How do I give my tomato plants nitrogen?

Types of organic fertilizer that are high in nitrogen include animal-based fertilizers such as blood meal, poultry or feather meal, fish meal, kelp meal, bone meal and crab and shrimp meal. Composted manure can be tilled into the first few inches of soil to ensure that the root system receives the much-needed nitrogen.

Why are the leaves on my plant turning yellow?

Poor drainage or improper watering

Water issues — either too much or too little — are the leading reason behind yellow leaves. In overly wet soil, roots can't breathe. They suffocate, shut down and stop delivering the water and nutrients plants need. Underwatering, or drought, has a similar effect.