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Growing Tomatoes

Red Purple stems on tomato seedlings

14 years ago

Last week of March I planted my tomato seeds. They popped right up, but then stopped growing. Looking closely I notice that they have purple stems. I figured it was a soil problem. You know, too much wood in the potting soil.

So I started another batch last weekend, in some pure untouched seed starting mix that I just bought. They popped right up again, but this time I notice right away, that they have purple stems.

In both cases the seed trays are on heating mats 24 hours a day. The first batch used florescent lights which didn't add any heat to the trays. So I fired up my HID plant light for the second batch, which keeps things nice and warm during the day.

I'm really perplexed. It's obviously not the soil. It doesn't look like it's the soil temperature or the light.

Any ideas?

As a test, I applied seed starting fertilizer to one batch of trays, and Ironite to a second batch of trays.

I also started a new pot with 4 seeds today, and I will use just tap water for these. The first and second batch of seeds used rain water out of a rain barrel.

Your thoughts, please.

Here's a picture for you... this is from the first batch.

And this pic is from the second batch, which just popped up this weekend.

Mike...

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Comments (7)

jean001
14 years ago
Simply put -- 'Tis normal.
digdirt2
14 years ago
Yep. Normal. No concern needed. Search purple leaves purple stems, etc. on this forum for lots of discussions on it.

Dave
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I do not know your problem but maybe this will start you. If the problem is a deficiency, noticing whether it started on the older or younger leaves first might narrow the cause (if they are big enough). Nitrogen & phosphorous deficiency symptoms first appearing on the older leaves. Symptoms on the younger leaves include Calcium & Sulfur. Purple leaves on the lower surfaces can be seen with a Nitrogen deficiency & leaf curl downward is seen with a Sulfur deficiency. Leaves curled under are seen with a Nitrogen excess. Slow growth can be due to Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, & Sulfur. Here are some tomato leaf pictures: http://www.luminet.net/~wenonah/min-def/tomatoes.htm http://www.uga.edu/vegetable/tomato.html Tomato diseases http://ftsg.ifas.ufl.edu/DISMIK.HTM Gardenweb has a neat forum on Tomato Pests & Diseases. If you think you might have a disease you could post pictures on this forum. Any symptoms of leaf spots, abnormal veins, stem & bud character, plant size, etc., might help identify the cause. Here are some tomato leaf pictures: http://www.luminet.net/~wenonah/min-def/tomatoes.htm http://www.uga.edu/vegetable/tomato.html Tomato diseases http://ftsg.ifas.ufl.edu/DISMIK.HTM Gardenweb has a neat forum on Tomato Pests & Diseases. If you think you might have a disease you could post pictures on this forum.
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mikeschn
Original Author
14 years ago
Then why did my tomato plants stop growing?

A guy I work with started the same seeds at about the same time, and his plants are more than twice as tall as mine.

Mike...
jean001
13 years ago
Are you fertilizing? If not, that's at least part of the reason why.

Another is bottom heat but coolish air really boosts growth.

Beyond that, the seedlings are rather spindly; move them closer to the lights.
digdirt2
13 years ago
twice as tall as mine

Twice as tall isn't a good thing. His probably aren't getting enough light either. Short stocky plants with thicker stems and good leaf growth is the ultimate goal. The focus at this stage of their life is root development and true leaf development, not long tall thin stems.

Can't tell from the pic how close your lights are to these but they need to be closer. No more than 1-1 1/2" above.

Dave
farnell
13 years ago
Yep. I have a couple roma's that have taken over 2 weeks to grow the first true leaves and still have purple stems. I am slightly increasing ferts. And hope to transplant shortly.
kevin1972
13 years ago
Have you been growing seeds long? Don't want to state the obvious you already know but don't water too often. Give them a couple days between watering until they are almost dry or even just dry on the surface. If they are close enough to the light, the soil is right, and there is some air movement they should grow. I found that holding the planter and shaking gently side to side and up and down helps oxygen get through the soil to the roots. Good luck!

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