Question

**tomatoaddict** · March 1, 2007

This is my first year growing tomatoes from seed. I have some big healthy plants about 3 weeks old. I noticed the stalk is turning a purple color. Is this normal?

dcarch · March 1, 2007

What's the variety?

dcarch

**tomatoaddict** · March 1, 2007

Okay, I have Ugly Ripe, A Beefsteak, Bucks County(hybrid).
They all seem very sturdy and healthy.

dcarch · March 1, 2007

I think some stems can be purple; however, the bottom of the leaves should not be.

dcarch

landarc · March 1, 2007

I would look at temperatures, if too low, that can cause pruple to show up in seedlings. Just an idea.

**tomatoaddict** · March 1, 2007

I have fertilized them once. I do have a fan running on them that is cooling things down quite a bit. The leaves all look quite healthy. So it sounds like I might just have it a bit too cool?

dice · March 1, 2007

Could be a mineral deficiency, although
I would not jump to that conclusion without
any other symptoms if I had not grown that
variety before.

Photos of more mature plants with deficiency
diseases can be found here:

http://www.luminet.net/~wenonah/min-def/tomatoes.htm

You could pull one aside, spray it with a *very*
dilute solution of liquified kelp or fish emulsion
(or better yet, a mixture of the two) and see
if the purple disappears. Those organic products
typically need to be broken down by bacteria
before nutrients become available to the plant,
so do not expect instant results (I would check
for differences after two weeks).

March 1, 2007	#1
tomatoaddict Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: zone 5 Posts: 1,459	Question This is my first year growing tomatoes from seed. I have some big healthy plants about 3 weeks old. I noticed the stalk is turning a purple color. Is this normal? __________________ Secretseedcartel.com

March 1, 2007	#2
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	What's the variety? dcarch __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato

March 1, 2007	#3
tomatoaddict Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: zone 5 Posts: 1,459	Okay, I have Ugly Ripe, A Beefsteak, Bucks County(hybrid). They all seem very sturdy and healthy. __________________ Secretseedcartel.com

March 1, 2007	#4
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	I think some stems can be purple; however, the bottom of the leaves should not be. dcarch __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato

March 1, 2007	#5
landarc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Left Coasty Posts: 964	I would look at temperatures, if too low, that can cause pruple to show up in seedlings. Just an idea. __________________ Lets see...$10 for Worth and $5 for Fusion, man. Tomatoes are expensive! Bob

March 1, 2007	#7
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	Could be a mineral deficiency, although I would not jump to that conclusion without any other symptoms if I had not grown that variety before. Photos of more mature plants with deficiency diseases can be found here: http://www.luminet.net/~wenonah/min-def/tomatoes.htm You could pull one aside, spray it with a very dilute solution of liquified kelp or fish emulsion (or better yet, a mixture of the two) and see if the purple disappears. Those organic products typically need to be broken down by bacteria before nutrients become available to the plant, so do not expect instant results (I would check for differences after two weeks). __________________ -- alias