Purple Stems/Leaves - When to Fert

mobiledynamics · March 26, 2018

I started all my seeds about 3 weeks ago or so . Everything germinated - leaves were green upon initial germination. I've since repotted all of the into their own plugs last Thursday. They have been under lights since day one so none are leggy. Some of them are on their 3rd set of true leaves. However, they are all not green like it when when it sprouted and it it's all purple....

They are in a soil-less, no fert mix (Promix).
I've got some seed starting fertz somewhere in my stash - 12-48-8 .
Is it too early to give these purple *tater plants* a drink of fertz yet.
They literally were just transplanted into plug packs 3 days ago.
Small signs of translant shock as I spy some small leaves that wilted.

I dunno how good or bad all these 'mato plants are all purple.

I've got probably another solid 4 weeks-5 weeks til they go outside.

SueCT · March 26, 2018

I would give them some weak fertilizer. I re-pot my seedlings into potting mix with fertilizer in it when they have at least 2 sets of true leaves (miracle grow). So they get some pretty early. That said, I have kept them in seed starting mix longer with no ill effects, but once they outgrow the little seed starting cups and about 4-5" tall they have problems if not put into a larger cup with potting mix.

clkeiper · March 26, 2018

are they too cold? and if they haven't been fertilized yet they may be getting deficient by now. there is generally nothing much in seed starting mix for fertilizer.

mobiledynamics · March 26, 2018

It's pretty warm. At least 65 degrees. Warmer when the boiler is on. I have my light setup in the boiler room.
Yes, no ferts in ProMix

decherdt · March 26, 2018

Tomatoes can be sensitive to wavelength of LED lights. If fertilizer doesn't help, maybe tweak the COB or add some sun or CFL light?

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...593#post690593

mobiledynamics · March 26, 2018

I was considering ferts 1st . Then maybe turn on the led for Bloom as well. With the bloom led dial on, it definitely amps up the intensity. I have to do more homework on what colors/leds are being turned on it each mode.....

I'm sure regular good old sun will help. Just too dang cold right now. Might try taking 2 under some sun just to observe and hehave. Thank for the link. I came across that.

Gardeneer · March 27, 2018

Purple stems/leaves are usual with tomato seedling
I think it has to do with cool temperatures and pkants inability to uptake certain elements. But once planted out an soil warms up they will recover. Some varietires like INGIGOs are genetically purplish. As i look into my seedlings, out of 23 varieties some are healthy green and some purplish, to somebextent
So i see a genetic influence there

Father'sDaughter · March 27, 2018

Definitely a temperature issue. I see it all the time with my basement temps hovering in the low to mid 60's until April or so. Once they warm up, they'll green up.

roper2008 · March 27, 2018

I think I asked this question years ago. Carolyn says they will grow out of it.

brownrexx · March 27, 2018

Cool temperatures prevent tomato plants from absorbing phosphorus no matter how much is in the soil so adding more will not help. As others have said, once the soil is warmer they will turn green as they absorb phosphorus.

mobiledynamics · March 27, 2018

My boiler room may hover in the high 60's once the heat is off. Currently, the boiler is turning on in the morning/mid-day-evening@ times. A wild guess is the average ambient temperature is at least 70. When the boiler is on, 74-78 is .

So to sum it up, don't worry about the color even though I have a solid 4-5 weeks before I transplant ?

For ferts, should I just continue with the *seedling/plant booster* fert which is high in P, or switch off to plain jane MG or even MG tomato plant food, diluted at 50% ? Won't do any fish emulsion stuff as it's indoors and that stuff....stinks

edweather · March 27, 2018

Certainly not too early to fertilize with at least half strength. Third set of true leaves, so your plants are plenty old enough.

ScottinAtlanta · March 27, 2018

Weak fish fert is what I use at that stage - the purple is no real problem as it passes quickly when the plant grows.

mobiledynamics · March 27, 2018

Thx All for the feedback. Just need to wait for the soil to dry out before I give it it' first fertz. drink. I was not sure about my ~new light~ setup and whether or not this played a role, as these LED's are very foreign/new to me.

See thread here on LED setup

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=47122

zipcode · March 28, 2018

Many people use high P fertilizer for seedlings and when transplanting (and that seems to be the commercial grower recommendation as well). How much that helps, not sure, but I noticed that even what I would call decent temperatures cause purpling in seedlings. You need rather high to keep it away. Some varieties are better with this, Black Plum is amazingly purple free even in cold soil.

March 26, 2018	#1
mobiledynamics Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: 7B Posts: 281	Purple Stems/Leaves - When to Fert I started all my seeds about 3 weeks ago or so . Everything germinated - leaves were green upon initial germination. I've since repotted all of the into their own plugs last Thursday. They have been under lights since day one so none are leggy. Some of them are on their 3rd set of true leaves. However, they are all not green like it when when it sprouted and it it's all purple.... They are in a soil-less, no fert mix (Promix). I've got some seed starting fertz somewhere in my stash - 12-48-8 . Is it too early to give these purple tater plants a drink of fertz yet. They literally were just transplanted into plug packs 3 days ago. Small signs of translant shock as I spy some small leaves that wilted. I dunno how good or bad all these 'mato plants are all purple. I've got probably another solid 4 weeks-5 weeks til they go outside.

March 26, 2018	#3
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	are they too cold? and if they haven't been fertilized yet they may be getting deficient by now. there is generally nothing much in seed starting mix for fertilizer. __________________ carolyn k

March 26, 2018	#5
decherdt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 329	Tomatoes can be sensitive to wavelength of LED lights. If fertilizer doesn't help, maybe tweak the COB or add some sun or CFL light? http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...593#post690593 __________________ 500 sq ft of raised rows zone 8a

March 27, 2018	#7
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	Purple stems/leaves are usual with tomato seedling I think it has to do with cool temperatures and pkants inability to uptake certain elements. But once planted out an soil warms up they will recover. Some varietires like INGIGOs are genetically purplish. As i look into my seedlings, out of 23 varieties some are healthy green and some purplish, to somebextent So i see a genetic influence there __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

March 27, 2018	#11
mobiledynamics Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: 7B Posts: 281	My boiler room may hover in the high 60's once the heat is off. Currently, the boiler is turning on in the morning/mid-day-evening@ times. A wild guess is the average ambient temperature is at least 70. When the boiler is on, 74-78 is . So to sum it up, don't worry about the color even though I have a solid 4-5 weeks before I transplant ? For ferts, should I just continue with the seedling/plant booster fert which is high in P, or switch off to plain jane MG or even MG tomato plant food, diluted at 50% ? Won't do any fish emulsion stuff as it's indoors and that stuff....stinks Last edited by mobiledynamics; March 27, 2018 at 02:05 PM.

March 26, 2018	#2
SueCT Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,460	I would give them some weak fertilizer. I re-pot my seedlings into potting mix with fertilizer in it when they have at least 2 sets of true leaves (miracle grow). So they get some pretty early. That said, I have kept them in seed starting mix longer with no ill effects, but once they outgrow the little seed starting cups and about 4-5" tall they have problems if not put into a larger cup with potting mix.

March 27, 2018	#8
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	Definitely a temperature issue. I see it all the time with my basement temps hovering in the low to mid 60's until April or so. Once they warm up, they'll green up.

March 27, 2018	#9
roper2008 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Virginia Bch, VA (7b) Posts: 1,337	I think I asked this question years ago. Carolyn says they will grow out of it.

March 27, 2018	#10
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	Cool temperatures prevent tomato plants from absorbing phosphorus no matter how much is in the soil so adding more will not help. As others have said, once the soil is warmer they will turn green as they absorb phosphorus.

March 27, 2018	#12
edweather Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Southeast GA, USDA 9a, HZ9, Sunset Z28 Posts: 396	Certainly not too early to fertilize with at least half strength. Third set of true leaves, so your plants are plenty old enough. __________________ You'll be surprised what you'll never have to do, if you put it off long enough.

March 27, 2018	#13
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	Weak fish fert is what I use at that stage - the purple is no real problem as it passes quickly when the plant grows.

March 28, 2018	#15
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	Many people use high P fertilizer for seedlings and when transplanting (and that seems to be the commercial grower recommendation as well). How much that helps, not sure, but I noticed that even what I would call decent temperatures cause purpling in seedlings. You need rather high to keep it away. Some varieties are better with this, Black Plum is amazingly purple free even in cold soil.