Most gardeners, mistrusting purchased nightshade plants, prefer to germinate the seed material on their own. And therefore, they often encounter such a phenomenon as purple tomato seedlings. This shade can have leaves or trunks of seedlings. And there are situations when tomato seedlings are completely purple. To get rid of such an unusual color of plants, you need to understand the causes of this phenomenon.
These two causes are directly related. If the air temperature is below the set, the tomato will not be able to properly absorb phosphorus. This means that the leaves will turn purple in seedlings.
The main reasons for the violet color are:
- phosphorus deficiency;
- low or too high temperature conditions.
Why is the tomato seedlings purple?The temperature regime for seedlings is correct and phosphorus is introduced into the earth clearly according to the scheme, and the leaves are still purple. Another reason why a tomato may have such a shade is an insufficient amount of light. In order for the leaves to turn green in tomatoes, you just need to provide them with additional lighting.
Symptoms of phosphorus deficiency in plants
The tomato constantly needs fertilizer. The lack of nutrients leads to the fact that the culture can simply die. If the soil was not initially saturated with trace elements, from below the seedlings become stunted and turn purple. twist and stick to the trunk. The stem at this time becomes more rigid and brittle. With a lack of phosphorus in tomato seedlings, the roots begin to fade. If you do not saturate the plant with this useful substance, then it will simply die.
Phosphorus is used to feed tomatoes from the moment they are planted until the fruits are received. But he plays a big role in the period of active growth. When the seeds begin to germinate, this beneficial substance affects the formation of the roots. Phosphorus also allows you to get the first crop early and in a fairly large amount. Tomato seedlings throughout the entire time accumulate the substance in themselves and also spend it in the process of growth.
Lack of phosphorus leads not only to become purple leaves at tomato seedlings, but also to poor absorption of nitrogen. And this substance also plays an important role in the process of tomato growth.
Feeding tomato seedlings with phosphorus
In order for purple leaves of tomato seedlings to acquire a pleasant green color, it is necessary to fill phosphorus. This will allow:
- to improve the condition of the root system;
- the leaves will turn green;
- the fruits will begin to tie early;
- in the end you will get delicious tomatoes.
But there are situations when phosphorus is not at hand, what to do then. In such cases, the plant can be helped by helping using a special infusion of litter and ash. For the first time this seedlings will be enough, but you need to try to quickly get phosphorus.
phosphorus negatively affects the seedlings
To compensate for the lack of phosphorus is possible only with the help of special preparations that are sold in any gardening store. To deal with this problem can only be such a substance. For this, boric acid is often used. It can be bought at any pharmacy.
In gardening stores you can find fertilizers saturated with phosphorus, several types. The most popular are liquid and powdered.If the tomato seedlings have turned purple, then it is better to take a liquid remedy. Gardeners recommend using a fertilizer such as superphosphate.
It is universal in use and is great not only for tomatoes, but also for other plants. It is possible to fertilize with such a product at any time during the growth of the crop.
Fertilizing correctly
Fertilizing should be done as carefully as possible, because a large amount of it can also negatively affect the growth of tomatoes . It is worth remembering that if you have already deposited superphosphate in a certain area, then this is not worth doing every year. After all, such a substance is contained in the soil for 2-3 years.
People who are engaged in the cultivation of tomato seedlings have a special table. It indicates how much and when it is worth feeding. After all, they are also not protected from the fact that the plant can acquire a purple hue. If you are not a professional, but just an amateur, then you do not need such calculations.
For open ground, a dry mixture is often used, which is applied in spring or autumn. One square meter needs only 40 grams of fertilizer. It is advisable to do this before the earth is dug. But for seedlings, it is better to use a liquid remedy. To do this, you need to dilute 20 grams of the drug in 10 liters of water.
This mixture should be infused for 24 hours. Then you can safely process the seedlings.This will allow for a short time to return green leaves to the plant. Such they become already a few days after the fertilizer is applied.
Air temperature and seedling lighting
It happens that the seedlings turn purple not because of a lack of phosphorus, but because the air temperature in the room is lower than expected. Tomatoes grow well at temperatures above 15 degrees with a plus sign. If it becomes lower, then nutrients can not be properly absorbed and the plant slowly dies. The first signs of heat shortage is the purple color of the foliage.
In order to fix this nuisance, you need to transfer the seedlings to a warmer place. Also, plants can become lilac in color due to lack of lighting, especially in winter. To fix these two reasons at the same time, you can lay a foil between the box and the armrest. It will give additional lighting and protect the seedlings from the cold.
If after such manipulations the seedlings do not turn green, then you should choose another place for it. Plus, carry out additional lighting. This should be done artificially using an LED lamp. After a certain period of time, you will notice how the tomatoes have become a beautiful green color.
Prevention measures
Per seedlings must be looked after correctly
In order to seedlings do not acquire a purple color, it is necessary to properly care for it from the moment of planting. Tomatoes are vegetables that are used to a warm and dry climate. Therefore, in order for them to grow and develop well, it is necessary to provide them with the following:
- good lighting;
- warm;
- regular watering;
- ventilation;
- regular fertilizer with phosphorus.
Tomatoes do not like soils that have too high acidity. Also, do not plant plants too close to each other. As soon as the seeds hatch and get a little stronger, they should be planted in different containers. A large amount of nitrogen in the soil can also lead to various diseases.
The temperature of the air in the room should not be less than 15 degrees with a plus sign and not higher than 35. Watering the tomatoes should also be clearly in accordance with the scheme. After all, a lack of water will lead to drying out of the roots, and its excess will rot. Also, tomato seedlings can be made more resistant to temperature extremes and phosphorus deficiency.
We strengthen tomato seedlings
So that tomato seedlings do not become purple, it can be strengthened. After all, the more powerful the seedlings, the less they give in to various misfortunes. The strengthening process must be done before the seeds are sown.For this, the seeds should be soaked in a solution of epin. This is a tool that allows you to accelerate growth and develop resistance to temperature extremes and diseases.
It is also recommended that the plant be watered not with ordinary water, but with an infusion of humate. Only its concentration should be minimal. Humate should be diluted as follows:
- 1 teaspoon of the substance;
- a little boiling water;
- stir the mixture;
- add two to the container liter of water.
This solution should be diluted again before watering. 100 grams of diluted humate should be mixed with 1 liter of water. This scheme is used to water the seedlings once. The concentrate of this product can be stored for a long time.
If you take preventive measures and prepare the seeds correctly before planting, your seedlings will not turn purple. The main thing is to regulate the temperature regime and the amount of phosphorus in the soil.
Conclusion
Everyone who has at least once grown tomato seedlings has encountered such a problem when the leaves turned purple . In fact, this is not such a big problem if it is eliminated in time. Timely help to the plant will not only save him, but also get a good harvest in the future. Practice shows that foliage is painted in this color because all the rules of planting were not followed.
