Why are tomato seedlings purple and what to do?

Healthy tomatoes always have beautiful green leaves. If there is a noticeable change in color, this indicates certain violations related to the process of plant development. Most often, gardeners are faced with the fact that tomato seedlings turn purple. In today's article, we will figure out why such a problem occurs and how it can be resolved.

Very often tomato seedlings take on an unhealthy purple hue. due to acute lack of phosphorus... Every summer resident who grows vegetables in his garden should know that a lack of this element often leads to serious negative consequences. Because of this, the tomato leaves on the back turn purple instead of green. Under the condition of phosphorus starvation, leaf plates can also turn burgundy or red-purple. As a rule, in such situations, the trunk does not change its healthy green color.

After a while, the color moves to those young leaves that are higher. If phosphorus starvation turns out to be neglected and too strong, then the top of the tomato seedlings turns dark green, and the leaves located below grow old and curl early.

Most often, the problem of phosphorus deficiency arises for a number of main reasons:

• poor soil in which seedlings are grown;
• too low soil and air temperature;
• phosphorus can be blocked by some other element.

If it became clear that tomato seedlings have acquired a purple hue precisely because of phosphorus starvation, then it is necessary to do proper fertilization of plants. For fertilizing seedlings it is recommended to use the following phosphorus components (they contain rapidly digestible phosphorus):

• potassium monophosphate;
• superphosphate (double superphosphate is especially highly effective);
• fertilizer of complex type, for example, "Agricola".

If phosphorus is in the soil, but the plants simply do not have proper access to it, then you can use special effective agent called "Phosphatovit".

There are other popular drugs:

• potassium sulfate;
• magnesium sulfate (a well-known agent among gardeners, which is used for spraying).

It is worth remembering that these drugs, like potassium monophosphate, have the desired effect only at temperatures above 15 degrees Celsius. If it is not possible to ensure compliance with this requirement, you can turn to a completely new highly effective Israeli drug. "Picosid"... Such a remedy will work even if there are lower temperature values.

It is not worth worrying about this, since in general the condition of the plants will be good, and the new leaves will have the necessary green color. It is necessary to use any top dressing for tomato seedlings only in accordance with the instructions... All packages of finished fertilizers indicate how and when they should be used correctly. It is not recommended to go beyond the scope of the manual by referring to various experiments.

Often, serious problems with tomato seedlings arise from sulfur deficiency. This element, in contrast to the phosphorus discussed above, comes to landings even from the airspace. If there is not enough sulfur, then the seedlings can also change their normal color to purple.

The characteristic blue or purple hue on the vegetative parts of plants due to a lack of sulfur usually appears not on seedlings, but on already mature plantings that grow in open ground or in a greenhouse. Most often, the stems of the planted plants are gaining a similar color, and with them the veins and petioles.

Far from always, gardeners can immediately and accurately determine which element is lacking in young plantings: sulfur or phosphorus, especially since in most cases an effective extract from superphosphate is used to combat the purple color on leaf plates. In the role of a ballast component, this drug also contains sulfur in precisely those quantities, which are quite enough to compensate for its lack. Replenishing the lack of phosphorus, gardeners simultaneously feed the plant with sulfur, due to which it soon returns to normal.

Not always the reason for the change in the color of the leaves of tomato seedlings is the lack of phosphorus or sulfur. Very often this problem occurs due to the impact on the planting of uncomfortable low temperatures. If this is the case, then the gardener should contact as soon as possible to actions aimed at stabilizing the temperature indicators in which tomato seedlings are located.

• It is worth moving the container with plants to a warmer and more comfortable place faster, especially if the seedlings are still at home.
• If tomato seedlings openly freeze on cold grounds, then time should not be wasted. In these circumstances, it is necessary to place some kind of insulation material under the container with seedlings. For these purposes, foam or foamed polystyrene foam is ideal.
• Often tomato seedlings change color due to the fact that they are affected by cold drafts. In this case, you need to find their source and reliably close and insulate it.

Another common reason for changing the color of tomato seedlings - this is an unsuitable soil... Solanaceae are demanding and capricious plantings. They only really need a balanced soil. If we are talking about tomato seedlings, then it is very important for it to select a soil with a sufficient content of magnesium, potassium, zinc and nitrogen. If at least one of the listed elements is not enough, it will be possible to notice that the plant grows very poorly, changes its healthy color.

Seedlings may turn purple due to the high percentage of alkali content in the soil. For tomatoes, only neutral or slightly acidic soil is required. If there are too many alkalis and acids in it, then phosphorus fertilizers in liquid form can become solid, due to which the desired effect from their exposure will not be achieved.

If tomato seedlings have acquired a purple color, you must first pay attention on the amount of light that the landings receive... Tomatoes will only develop normally if they receive enough light - at least 10 hours a day. If there is a short daylight hours, then the leaves may acquire an unnatural purple hue.

The duration of daylight hours should not exceed 12 hours... If there is too much light, then this can also lead to negative consequences. Tomatoes will definitely need rest, because it is in the dark that many useful and important elements can be easily absorbed.

To prevent tomato seedlings from getting sick and not changing their correct healthy color, it is very important not to make major mistakes when growing them. Let us find out, ignoring which rules most often leads to the appearance of the problems under consideration.

• It is very important to correctly select the ideal soil for growing tomato seedlings. It is necessary to pay attention to what elements are present in it. If the soil does not contain peat, sand, humus and other substances, then the seedlings will grow sparsely and can seriously hurt.
• Plants definitely need good feeding. Tomato seedlings should, in accordance with the instructions, be fertilized with compounds containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and so on. Often it is the lack of proper feeding that leads to a change in the color of the plants.
• Plants need to provide adequate moisture levels. To water your tomato seedlings, do not use too little or too much water. Waterlogging or overdrying of the soil can seriously harm plantings.
• To prevent young plantings from starting to deteriorate and change their healthy color, it is important for them to provide sufficient access to light and heat.... You cannot neglect these rules, otherwise you will then have to deal with the appearance of purple shades on the plants.
• Lack of preventive measures aimed at combating common diseases, can also lead to color changes in tomato seedlings.
• Tomato seedlings must be watered correctly. Most often, people use a spray bottle for this, but it is better to turn to drip irrigation. Thanks to him, water does not stagnate in unnecessary areas and does not fall on the leaf blades.
• Another common mistake gardeners make is untimely procedure to remove stepchildren.
• Tomato seedlings are very often grown in a cold window sill.... This should not be done, especially if the house has old wooden window frames that allow drafts. In such an environment, the seedlings will definitely turn blue or purple.