Tomato Seedlings are Purple

Hello Dave's Garden...

I have a grow light and seedlings set up in my basement. The basement temperature is considerably cooler that the rest of my house. I am afraid that the purple seedlings are due to a phosphorus deficiency. I have given them a little bit of fertilizer, and moved them upstairs which is the warmest part of our house. Will this correct the phosphorus deficiency? If so how long before I see results? If not, what do I do? I can post pictures if you need me too...

Thanks,

Ehudjashobeam

It's probably do to being too cold and/or too wet. It will resolve itself when they get planted out if not before. I wouldn't worry about it. How old are they and when do you plan on planting them out?

I planted them on the 18th of February, and I intend on transplanting them from the sterile seed mix to potting soil when they have two to three sets of true leaves, and then putting them in the garden around the 14th of April.

Ehud,
You're on an 8-week plant out schedule. Great!

I believe the cold and damp is causing your babies to go purple (think about cold human babies -- they turn blue), and slowed their growth way down. At 17 days (today), they should already being showing close to the 2nd set of leaves. But, since you've moved them to a warmer temp, they'll catch up soon enough.

In the future, use your heat up front, for germination. Warm soil, warm watering in (initial watering), warm room temp, until the seeds pop. I keep my seedlings in the warm room until the 2nd set of true leaves and potting up. THEN I move them into the cool room for growing on. Too much heat for too long after they declare could result in leggy seedlings -- same thing with not enough light. But they still need enough heat to continue steadily to those 2 sets of true leaves.

Cool temps after they get going will cause them to grow short and stocky -- beef 'em up!



Linda

I agree I didnt realize they were so young. I generally move mine to a cooler location after they have been potted up and have their second set of true leaves. This slows down the growth, but they still grow fast. Remember to keep the lights close to your plants. But they should be fine, no need to worry about them. You asked a very valid question. Keep us posted.
Lisa

1Lisac,
Thanks for the confirmation I was on track with my answer! Trying to give more "right" advice these days! LOL!

Hugs!

You didnt need my confirmation. I just felt that since I started it I should finish it. lol

Sometimes, I actually do!

I have read somewhere before that purple tomato seedlings are healthy and normal. I always have some that are purple and they turn out fine. Refer to gymgirl's 1st post as a guide.

Well, actually all of you, together, are correct! (Ain't it fun!? *grin)

Yep, it is very common for tomato seedlings to show "the color purple" (also one of my favorite books and movie!). And yes, it is due to a phosphorous deficiency or unavailability.

Most seed starting mixes don't contain any or many nutrients so phosphorous won't be there to begin with. Also the mixes that may contain fertilizer or nutrient amendments won't be available to the plant for several reasons, one being the root systems aren't yet able to accommodate proper uptake of those nutrients either due to the top growth being faster than the root growth. And yes, whether the plant is in a seed starting mix or out in the ground when the temperatures are too cool, either soil or air temperature, there is an inability to utilize phosphorus.

On a good note this is all temporary and the purple tinge will disappear when the plant growth balances out and when the roots can take up phosphorous.

As for me, I like seeing the purple tinge, it's very normal and I like to see "normal happenings" in the plant world, especially when I have 2200 tomato seedlings to deal with right now, and more on their way. Can you imagine how stressed out I'd be if I hadn't seen this for many years past? Yikes! :>)

Shoe (also remembering turning blue when I was a cold young'n)

GG and I want a gold star, please.

And step to the head of the class, please, ya'll have earned that star, both with the knowledge and with your willingness to share it with others.

Shoe, who only has a silver star to offer at this point in time