Why Do Vegetable Leaves Turn Upside Down?

Water

• Just as the leaves of trees turn up before a rain shower, vegetable plants also flip over their leaves as a sign of a water problem. However, you have to do a little observation to determine whether your vegetable leaves have turned over due to lack of water or over-watering. Take a look at the soil around your vegetables. If it looks cracked and dry, the plants need water. If the soil looks muddy with a few greenish algae patches, it's too wet. Also, if the leaves appear yellow or wilted, the plant may need water; if the leaves appear yellow, though, and the stem seems mushy, the plant could have too much water. Water vegetable plants daily, keeping soil moist, yet never muddy or soggy, to prevent leaf turning due to water problems.

Disease

• Certain diseases cause leaves on vegetables to flip over. Sometimes this is referred to as leaf rolling or leaf cupping. The diseases causing leaf-roll problems in vegetables are viral, with other symptoms including leaf discoloration, leaf drop and dried leaves. Viral disease in vegetables should be treated with an anti-viral product as soon as the disease is recognized. Choose a product specifically for the disease you need to treat and that's labeled safe for vegetable plants. Always follow the directions on the label of the product as closely as possible. Prompt and proper treatment may prevent the elimination of your entire vegetable crop due to viral disease.

Pests

• Pests may be the culprit behind your plants' leaf-turning problems. Pests such as aphids often damage the leaves of vegetable plants, causing leaves to overturn, discolor or fall off entirely. Furthermore, aphids leave injuries on the plants, allowing disease to enter and causing leaf problems. Aphids also carry viral disease, which then transfers to vegetable plants and infects them. Treat pests in an expedient manner using a pesticide. Use a pesticide labeled specifically for aphids or whichever pest you mean to eliminate, and that's also labeled safe for vegetable plants. Follow the instructions on the product exactly to ensure the best results.

Chemicals

• Chemical products used on vegetable plants may be the cause of the plants' leaves turning upside down. Chemical products may include fertilizers, growth regulators, pesticides and herbicides. Occasionally, these products contain harsh ingredients that cause damage to the plants. One result of that damage is over-turned leaves. Other signs are discolored leaves, misshapen leaves and misshapen or wilted plants. Avoid chemical leaf problems by only using products labeled safe for use on vegetables, and safe for the types of vegetables you're growing. Follow the instructions on the labels exactly, and cease using the products if problems arise.