Tomatoes – Fighting Cold Damage

Q: We have had tomatoes in a pot for three weeks. The plant has some leaves that are washed out looking, almost as though some of the green was removed. What could cause this?

A: My bet is cold damage. You’ve had several nights of below-freezing temperatures in the last three weeks. If there are green leaves on the plant, simply remove the damaged leaves. If all of the leaves are light-colored, discard this tomato and plant another. If you haven’t grown tomatoes in a pot before, remember that they do best in large containers: 24 inches wide is a good size. I have a list of freeze damage symptoms on many vegetables at http://www.walterreeves.com/food-gardening/vegetables-determining-cold-damage/.