If you are growing seedlings, you have probably noticed that when hardening begins, the seedlings begin to acquire a purple hue. This shade appears when the temperature decreases. For example, it was 25 in the room, and 15 in the greenhouse. At low temperatures, the seedlings stop stretching, that is, growing. And the reason is that nutrients are poorly absorbed in the cold. And not only phosphorus, from the lack of which the color changes, but also nitrogen and potassium. With the onset of warm weather, everything will return to normal. But if not, then you need to feed it with a phosphorus-containing fertilizer, preferably water-soluble. It is possible and superphosphate in very hot water stir, and then pour the plantings with the cooled solution.
This is a purely chemical reaction of tomato seedlings, it manifests itself in them almost like in people who turn blue from the cold. However, tomatoes, unlike people, are even more heat-loving and for such a manifestation of a lack of heat, it is enough that the temperature drops just below + 15 degrees.
Tomato seedlings can change their color to purple for two reasons.
At air and soil temperatures below +15 degrees, tomatoes stop growing, the plant stops receiving nutrients, in particular phosphorus.
By raising the temperature, the plants begin to grow again. Otherwise, when the temperature is right and the seedlings are purple. it is necessary to feed with superphosphates, nitrophoska or ammofoska.
Quite possible. that you slightly overdid it with fertilizers and because of them the leaves of the tomato took on an unusual purple color for them. It is also possible that the color of the leaves has changed due to low temperatures. Check if your seedlings are warm. In this case, it is better not to store it on a balcony or veranda, but bring the tomatoes into the house.
A purple hue on tomato bushes may signal that the plants have succumbed to cooling. If the sprouts begin to turn black, there is a risk of death. If the sprouts brighten, then everything worked out, but still cooling can adversely affect the future harvest.
The reason for the appearance of the purple color of tomatoes is one unbalanced diet for phosphorus, which can be caused by two reasons:
1) decrease in air or soil temperature (or both);
2) lack of phosphorus in the soil in which seedlings grow.
But do not rush to feed the blue seedlings with phosphate fertilizers. An excess of phosphorus will lead to the fact that the plant will develop faster than usual and will age quickly, which will further cause a crop shortage. In addition, an excess of phosphorus will increase the sensitivity of the plant to a lack of moisture.
To begin with, create a favorable microclimate for your seedlings, increase the temperature in the room to 20-22 degrees during the day, reducing it by 4-5 degrees at night.
And if after a week the seedlings do not take on a natural color, then just feed it with phosphate fertilizers.
tomato seedling can acquire violet shade due to lack of phosphorus. It can be hidden and explicit. In the first case, phosphorus does not enter the plants due to low air temperature and it is easy to solve the problem - place the seedlings where it is above 15 degrees (ideally 21-22).
In the second case, there is a real lack of the mineral and fertilizing with fertilizers from the outside is necessary.
Most often, tomato seedlings change their color from green to purple when they lack phosphorus. In this case, you just need to feed it with phosphate fertilizers. And this can also happen if the temperature is too low and the seedlings fall into hibernation, stopping growth, but if the temperature does not drop critically, then when it rises, all plant functions will be restored.
The question is simply perfectly set for the description of phosphorus deficiency, which is precisely characterized by blue leaf tips and pointed, raised leaves. Such a phenomenon can be observed not only in tomato seedlings, but even adult plants can be painted in such unusual color. On the one hand, this is not a disease and the blue leaves do not portend anything terrible. On the other hand, if measures are not taken in time, the plant can become very weak and become easy prey for a variety of infections and fungal diseases.
Usually, such phosphorus starvation of seedlings and adult tomatoes is not associated with an actual phosphorus deficiency in the soil. Phosphorus is found in almost all fertilizers that gardeners use for their seedlings, so a real lack of phosphorus in the soil is almost impossible. But there may be such a situation that it seems that there is phosphorus, but the plant does not receive it, cannot extract it from the ground.
The most common reason for this is a decrease in temperature. Therefore, seedlings are always kept in a warm place, and tomatoes in the open field are covered with a film or covering material. Sometimes the leaves get this color with insufficient watering or with a lack of copper. But these cases are already characteristic only for adult plants.
Good afternoon, there are two main reasons that can lead to the appearance of purple leaves on seedlings:
1) The temperature regime where the seedlings grow is disturbed, and because of this, it can poorly absorb such a useful microelement as phosphorus;
2) Or maybe there is a lack of phosphorus itself in the soil, as a result, you will again observe a purple color on your plants.
These are the two main reasons that give purple seedlings.
You have to figure out what is causing your purple color, and then just decide whether to move to a warmer place or make a phosphorus-containing top dressing.
The well-known old familiar tomato has long been considered poisonous plant, as a food product was not used, and it was grown exclusively for decorative purposes. South America is considered the birthplace of tomatoes. Pomod "oro" in Italian means "golden apple." The Aztecs called the vegetable "tomatil". This berry combines a whole bunch of nutrients, has excellent taste and dietary qualities. In our area, tomatoes began to be cultivated in the Crimea. Growing tomatoes is an art that begins with the purchase of seeds. It takes a lot of effort, love and care so that the bushes can grow well and bear fruit. In our article, we will try to understandwhy do tomato seedlings have purple leaves underneathhow to prevent it and how to deal with it.
Causes of purple leaves
Healthy tomatoes have a uniform green color. If the seedlings color changes, it's time to sound the alarm.
Let's take a look at the main reasons why stems and leaves turn purple:
- insufficient nutrients in the soil;
- inappropriate temperature.
Cooling of the air to 15°C is considered critical. At this temperature, the roots cease to absorb nutrients and, first of all, phosphorus. Because if stem and the leaves of seedlings from below acquire purple means plant not getting enough heat. Seedlingwith purple leavessubsequently stops growing. Productivity and normal development are also directly dependent on the nutrient content in the soil.
If everything is in order with the temperature regime, and the seedlings havelilac shade,it means that the sprouts lack phosphorus, which is especially important at all stages of the plant's life. Root growth, flowering, resistance to pests and cold are directly dependent on this element. A young tomato needs to accumulate enough of it in order to use it later for development and fruiting.
If the seedlings turned blue , then this also indicates a lack of phosphorus, a lack of moisture, or the ingress of animal urine into the soil. While the seedlings are just developing, provide them with proper conditions, cover with a film, mulching is a reliable way to keep moisture in the soil. Do not allow the cat to "mark" the ground.
Phosphorus deficiency symptoms
Tomato is capricious to the quality of the soil. He needs a high content of micro and macro elements. Otherwise, there will be a violation of the natural metabolism. If the tomato does not receive right amount phosphorus, then the leaves of the lower tier of the plant speak about it first of all. On tomatoes they turn purple on the back. Or tomatoes just turn blue - first in the form of single spots, which then spread throughout the plant.
In addition, the leaves may shrink from the appearance of dark spots in the segments between the veins and at the tips. They can also curl inward or be pressed against the trunk. The stem will eventually become brittle and hard, and the roots will be sluggish, with a rusty coating. The fruits are small and do not ripen.
What to do
Fertilizing seedlings with phosphorus
In order to prevent stunting of tomatoes, poor ripening of fruits and other negative consequences, it is necessary to feed seedlings with phosphate fertilizers in time. After the seeds germinate, their need for phosphorus is highest, although they are not able to absorb it from the soil due to insufficient root development.
“Your task is to provide young seedlings with the proper amount of phosphorus by introducing easily soluble compounds that can be absorbed by the weak root system of a young tomato.”
Proper fertilization
But you should be careful, because phosphorus poisoning is no less dangerous than its deficiency. Signs of it are the appearance of necrotic spots, yellowing of the leaves and their fall, as well as the appearance of brown spots on the leaves of the lower tier. The introduction of phosphorus can be divided into two stages:
- main or local;
- fertigation.
In the first case, this is necessary to ensure the normal vegetative development of the plant. When preparing the soil, a large part of the total volume of the norm is introduced. During fertigation, a solution is introduced into the soil during irrigation, the concentration of fertilizers in which must correspond to the weather conditions and air temperature, as well as the phases of plant development.
During fertigation, make sure that the concentration of phosphorus in irrigation water in hot weather does not exceed 0.3%, in cool or rainy - 0,5%. It is necessary to start fertilizing 2 weeks after planting the seedlings. The second time - during the formation of fruits. To do this, organic and mineral fertilizers are mixed: for 10 liters of manure mixed with water in a ratio of 1 to 5, 50 g of ammophos or double superphosphate is introduced. Fertigation is good to apply during the beginning of flowering, it will increase the yield. Top-dressing tomatoes with double superphosphate will help to get high-quality fruits.
Air temperature
Spring and early summer are characterized by low temperatures for tomatoes, the soil is still not warm enough. It is also fraught with a lack of phosphorus. The best indicator is 20°C.
The tomato is thermophilic, so provide it with a temperature regime for the normal development of adventitious roots, good absorption of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Lighting
Intensive plant growth, good fruiting and taste are directly dependent on normal lighting. If the tomato receives little sunlight, the ripening period increases by 2-3 weeks. If you are creating an artificial light source, then make sure that it is constant. Interruptions can lead to delays in tomato growth.
Prevention
Phosphorus is the main energy source of tomatoes. To avoid its deficiency in the soil, the soil temperature should be above 13°C. To do this, watering with warm water and shelter with a film is needed. The deficiency of this microelement is easily eliminated by adding a solution of double superphosphate in the period between top dressing. Its transition to insoluble compounds is also fraught with backfire. In this state, plants cannot absorb phosphorus.
Too much is just as dangerous as too little. You can do a test before planting seedlings on the site. Sow radishes in spring. The number of arrowing units should not exceed 5%, otherwise the soil is oversaturated with phosphorus, and top dressing should be limited. Tomato is a storehouse of useful elements. Vitamins, pectin, antioxidants and low calorie content make this fruit indispensable in diet food and not only. Although growing tomatoes requires a lot of effort, with proper care, your work will be rewarded with juicy, tasty fruits.
Quite often, gardeners are faced with a problem when purple leaves appear on tomatoes. At this phenomenon there are several reasons. One of them is sudden changes in temperature, and the second is due to a lack of phosphorus in the soil. It is worth considering both options in detail in order to understand how to deal with this. But there is also a variety of tomato that has a purple color, and this makes it unique.
Often you can see purple seedlings for sale, and this is not a deviation, but a variety of tomatoes in which purple pigment is present. For example, purple tomatoes are Cherokee tomatoes. This variety is believed to have been bred by the Indians, hence the interesting name. Both seedlings and the fruit itself are purple in color.
The tomatoes themselves are quite large and have a purple heart, the bush has a strong and wide stem. This tomato variety is also called purple, its rich color is difficult to confuse with other varieties. This is a rather rare variety, but in our conditions it is perfectly grown in greenhouses. Cherokee fruits are very large, can reach 400 g. This fruit has many healing properties, being a powerful antioxidant. The variety should not raise doubts and suspicions about its purple-violet hue.
#1 Cause of Purple Leaves: Frost
Often gardeners are perplexed why tomato seedlings are purple. For common tomato varieties that don't have purple hues, when purple leaves appear, this problem should be seriously addressed. Perhaps there is time to correct mistakes during cultivation, and the plant will be reanimated.
One of the main reasons when purple tomatoes become is sudden changes in temperature. From a sharp cold snap, the leaves initially react in the form of rolling into a tube, they become darker than usual, sometimes they take on a brownish color, and then they can change their color to purple. In the same way, when the seedlings of a tomato are purple, provided that the variety does not imply this pigment, the reason may be the non-compliance with the temperature regime during cultivation - the seedlings freeze. In such cases, it is urgent to restore the required temperature.
Frost causes purple leaves
Solutions
It is bad when tomato seedlings are planted in open ground and this problem arose, in this case you will have to make a shelter and cover the plants from frost. Quite often, many gardeners at the first stage of freezing tomato seedlings resort to feeding and saturating the soil with useful minerals. This is not a completely right decision, the main thing is not to overdo it and not cause a backlash, because the signal in the form of twisting the leaves of a tomato indicates the necessary decision regarding the temperature of the soil and air.
In greenhouse conditions, this issue is much easier to solve, purple leaves in greenhouse cultivation are a rare occurrence, since under these conditions it is quite easy to provide plants with heat.
By raising the temperature and keeping it within 16-18 ° C, such a problem as color change and growth retardation in tomato seedlings will pass, and the plants will regain strength.
Cause of Violet Pigment Disease #2: Anthocyanosis
In the case when the seedlings do not grow and began to acquire a slightly purple color, but there were no sharp changes in temperature, the reason may be a lack of phosphorus in the nutrition of the plant.
This phenomenon has a scientific name - anthocyanosis. This is when a tomato, planted in the ground and successfully adopted, does not grow over time, the stem becomes rough and takes on a woody appearance, and the leaves of the tomatoes curl and begin to darken, taking on a dark purple color over time, the fruit itself begins to change shade from orange-red to brown.
Options for dealing with the disease
With this plant disease, it is necessary to take measures to fertilize the soil with useful minerals. Perhaps not only there is a lack of phosphorus, but the alkaline environment of the soil may be above the norm, which in turn leads to poor absorption of phosphorus in the soil.
To carry out the necessary feeding, it is worth purchasing the appropriate preparations in specialized stores. It is worth feeding immediately, but if the temperature is below 16-17 ° C, then minerals and other useful material, which will feed the soil, are absorbed much worse. Under these conditions, it makes sense to cover the plants and continue to fertilize the soil.
Tomato diseases: brown spot (video)
In order not to face such problems in spring and summer during the period of active growth and harvest, it is necessary to properly prepare the land for new plants. It is worth fertilizing the soil with superphosphates, potassium and organic substances. With proper soil preparation, tomatoes will grow healthy and strong, and the harvest will delight with its abundance.
Growing tomato seedlings is a laborious and troublesome business. Even with careful daily care, plants, while remaining outwardly healthy, can lose or change their color. The most common problem that gardeners face when growing seedlings in the spring is staining the leaves and stems lilac. From the article you will learn why the purple leaves of tomatoes turn, and what needs to be done to save the seedlings and the future harvest.
There are two main reasons why tomato seedlings turn purple:
Each of these problems can occur separately, but more often than not, they are closely interrelated. When the temperature drops to 15 ° C, the seedlings begin to freeze. This is manifested by the fact that the plants stop their development, and the leaves and stems acquire a purple color. Many heat-loving crops, especially nightshade ones, have one feature - in cold soil they poorly absorb nutrients, including phosphorus. Another reason for this phenomenon may be the high acidity of the soil - in this case, phosphorus is poorly absorbed.
If the seedlings regularly received the necessary mineral nutrition, but the plants still turned purple, this is a signal that they do not have enough heat. Color change may optionally begin when the temperature drops to 15 °C. A barely noticeable blueing of the stem or lower part of the leaf blades can begin at a higher degree. It is important to track this process in time and take appropriate measures.
Video “Growing seedlings”
From the video you will learn how to grow seedlings correctly.
Seedling diseases
Failure to comply with the rules of cultivation can lead not only to a change in the color of the stems, but also to the development of certain diseases:
- Late blight. This fungal disease is a real problem for adult tomatoes, but if the temperature is violated, it may well develop on young plants. The main cause of the disease is sudden changes in temperature against the background of high humidity. Try not to get carried away with abundant watering in cool weather and do not take seedlings outside if it is cold there.
- Mosaic. A disease of viral origin, the development of which is directly related to the violation of the conditions for growing seedlings. The main reasons for the appearance of mosaics (light spots on the leaves) are two - a lack of lighting and infection of the soil. It is impossible to cure mosaic plants, they will simply have to be destroyed, so take seedlings to the sun more often, and pay attention to disinfecting the soil before planting seeds.
- Leaf spot (white, brown). White spotting (septoria) is a fungal disease, the cause of which is excessive watering. Light dried or transparent spots on the leaves may appear due to a burn after a long exposure to the sun. What can be done to avoid these problems? Dose the hardening procedure, periodically spray plants and soil weak solution potassium permanganate or ash.
- Blackleg. Another fungal disease that affects young seedlings. Manifested by darkening (rotting) of the stem in the basal part. It is almost impossible to save such plants, since the blackening of the stem is preceded by rotting of the roots. The development of the disease can be prevented by adding ash to the soil. Soil waterlogging should be avoided.
- From lack of lighting and excessive watering, tomato seedlings can stretch, turn yellow, and the leaves dry out and crumble. To avoid this, monitor the temperature and humidity in the room - the air should be moderately humid (not dry). Seedlings should be watered as needed. Do not water until the topsoil is dry.
Growing mistakes
To obtain healthy seedlings, it is necessary to ensure and regularly maintain the correct temperature regime at the level of 20-22 ° C during the day and not lower than 18 ° C at night. Its deviation in any direction leads to a disruption in the development of seedlings - when the degree rises, they stretch, and when it drops to +15 ° C, the absorption of nutrients by the root system slows down.
Another common problem that vegetable growers make is taking seedlings to the balcony with the advent of spring. In the daytime, when the sun is shining, a quite comfortable microclimate is created on the balcony, but with sunset the temperature drops sharply, which leads to the blue color of the stems. Seedlings can be taken out to the balcony for hardening only for a few hours in warm weather. At night, boxes with plants must be brought into the room. 
A similar problem can occur during a planned shutdown of heating in the spring. As a rule, at this time the temperature in the room drops by several degrees, which also adversely affects the seedlings. Place boxes with seedlings on a sunny windowsill, and in case of a sharp cold snap, use heaters. It is recommended to alternate regular top dressing with the application of micronutrient fertilizers - this measure will avoid nutrient deficiencies.
How to get rid
It is necessary to approach the solution of the problem in a complex manner. But first you need to raise the air temperature to at least 22 ° C. Usually in 5-7 days the plants turn green again and continue to develop normally. 
If this did not happen, then the reason definitely lies in the deficiency of phosphorus, so the next step is the application of phosphorus-containing fertilizers.
Tomatoes, due to their nutritional properties and health benefits, have long been one of the most desirable types of vegetables grown in the backyard. In an effort to grow healthy and strong tomato seedlings, gardeners are very often concerned about the change in foliage color and wonder why tomato seedlings are purple.
The reasons
There are two interrelated reasons for the change in the normal green color of tomato leaves to an unusual purple color. One of the reasons for the appearance of purple tomatoes is the low temperature regime of cultivation. The second is the lack of a nutrient, phosphorus in the soil. The interrelation of these reasons is that not enough heat affects the absorption of phosphorus from the soil by the tomato.
Purple seedlings of tomatoes become cold and lack of phosphorus
But it also happens that the temperature was normal, and the plant withers, the leaves began to hurt, purple tomatoes may have appeared.
Phosphorus deficiency symptoms
Tomato is a rather demanding crop that actively absorbs nutrients from the soil. The lack of at least one of them leads to sad consequences - the degradation of the plant until its death. First of all, the lower leaves of the plant begin to prevent the lack of trace elements such as phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, zinc and nitrogen.
Bush growth stops
If there is a deficiency of phosphorus in the soil, then the stems and foliage of tomatoes acquire an unhealthy dark green color with a blue tint, turning into a purple-violet color.
Older leaves turn purple at the bottom. First, spots appear, subsequently spreading throughout the plant. In addition to the color change, a number of other changes take place. The leaves curl inward, can rise up and press against the stem. The stem itself becomes fibrous, stiff and brittle. The roots are in a depressed state.
With a change in color, twisting of the leaves also occurs.
Phosphorus is needed throughout the entire period of growing tomatoes. But it is most important in the first period of growth. It is responsible for the control of constant metabolic processes and serves as a source of energy. During seed germination, this trace element enhances root growth, accelerates the onset of flowering and fruit ripening. In addition, phosphorus increases sugar content and increases the amount of pulp, significantly increasing yields. A young tomato is able to accumulate this microelement and then spend it in the process of its development.
The purple color is most visible on the underside of the leaf.
Insufficient phosphorus content leads to poor absorption of nitrogen, which is necessary for good growth plants.
Therefore, tomato growth almost completely stops. The fruits are small, poorly formed and slowly ripen.
Phosphorus replenishment
There is only one way to save purple tomatoes - to make up for the lack of phosphorus as quickly as possible. For this, top dressing is carried out with fertilizer containing it.
Among the most common are fertilizers such as superphosphate, double superphosphate, ammophos, diammophos.
- One glass of superphosphate is poured with one liter of boiling water. This solution is infused for eight to twelve hours.
- The infusion is diluted with ten liters of water. You need to water at the rate of a liter for every two bushes.
- You can make foliar bait by spraying the foliage with a 0.5% fertilizer solution with phosphorus.
Fertilizer Superphosphate
Instead of mineral fertilizers for root and foliar dressings, wood ash or fertilizers based on humates are used.
Bone meal is perfect, which serves as an excellent phosphorus top dressing without chemicals.
Natural phosphate fertilizers allow you to make nutritious compost with a natural composition. These are wormwood, hawthorn, feather grass, rowan berries, thyme.
But do not try to saturate the soil with phosphorus as much as possible, since an excess of it is also detrimental to tomatoes.
Poisoning manifests itself in the form of yellowing and falling leaves. Necrotic spots of brown and yellow shades appear.
Temperature regime
Sometimes the cause of a change in the color of the leaves is the banal freezing of seedlings. Tomatoes love a certain temperature, and if it drops to fifteen degrees or lower, they immediately signal this. After all, the lowered temperature of the soil prevents the normal absorption of phosphorus and nitrogen from the soil by the plant. If the soil is warmed up only to twelve degrees, then the roots stop feeding. The unusual shade of the lower part of the foliage will disappear as soon as the temperature regime returns to normal.
Temperature control when growing seedlings is mandatory
The optimum temperature for a tomato is within twenty degrees during the day and eighteen at night.
A balanced diet is very important when growing vegetables. One should never forget about the importance of phosphorus, because it is one of the most important trace elements for plant development. Moderately saturated with fertilizers and organic matter, the soil is a guarantee of tomato yield.
