Roma Tomatoes--Bottom leaves have a purple edging

15 years ago

My Roma tomatoes have been producing just fine. The plants look healthy in general. A couple of days ago, I noticed that on a couple of the plants the bottom third of the

leaves are edged in purple. I searched here and read that purple indicates it's too cool. But I doubt that's the case here unless the night tempts dipping into the low sixties would do it. Tempts have been all over the map this growing season.

The Roma's will be finished producing in 2/3 weeks anyway. Meantime, is the purple edging indicating a need of fertilizer?

Perhaps too much water? May/June/July have all been very moist, with at least two inches of rainfall most weeks. The tomatoes are heavily mulched, the soil has moist all summer. I've not had to water.

Bye the bye, my Celebrity's growing alongside do not show this symptom.

Thanks

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

angelady777 (Angela) - Zone 6
15 years ago
It may be a phosporus deficiency. Fertilizer would definitely help if so.

Here's a resource for you (below) to review pics and problem plant issues.

~Angela

Here is a link that might be useful: Plant Diagnostics
solanaceae
15 years ago
Many of my lower leaves show phosphorus deficiency this year Too much cool wet weather. Not one heat wave all year. One hot day and then a thunder storm at most a few times. Its that or 80 highs and 60 lows and getting drier. A handy list of observations this year.

1. I have powdery mildew on some grass and even some weeds where I used the milk defense.
2. Every single Lima rotted on me in the ground even in a raised bed.
3. I just pulled snow pea vines because they just never died until now. Bumper crops of peas...
4. My coworker still has lettuce that he says is not bitter.

Its that kind of year. I will make sure I add a bit of bone meal to fight it off for next year but it will probably just be too hot next year. I am in a new spot and had to use crappy commercial compost somewhat as well but its the weather for the most part. No later heat waves made up lost time either.

Here is a side by side for my area. May just killed all early growth for summer crop. If you were in the Midwest this may have been your issue. Last year was great year for Tomatoes.

http://home.att.net/~chicago_climo/CHI2007.gif
http://home.att.net/~chicago_climo/CHI2008.gif
Related Discussions
Roasting Yellow Peppers/Yellow Roma Toms 4 Spread; Have Questions
Q
Comments (7)
Zabby, Dave, and others: The Roasted Yellow Pepper (and tomato) Spread was a success. Pretty, pretty color, and nice taste. I think the icky things inside the peppers are "stuff" not seeds growing. I HAVE seen seeds grow into roots/leaves inside tomatoes, though. We don't have a vegetable garden (only an immense orchard, as you can see on MyPage) so I purchase veggies from the wonderful year-round Produce-Butcher-Health Food Store here in our small town. The only tomatoes to ever grow those seedlings inside, though, were from beautiful tomatoes we purchased at Costco during the "off season". My roasting technique (tightly covering the tray with foil for 20-30 minutes after the peppers are wrinkly) is good. I sit the tray on the table, watch some TV, and pull away. I feel like I'm skinning an elderly person, though. The flesh moves and the skin just pulls up and breaks apart. I also just put the Roma (or Grape Tomatoes, which I've used, too) into a pot of boiling water, then cold water, to skin. I don't see the difference in roasting them, except extended time. I DO put the onion and garlic cloves onto the tray in the oven for a few minutes, though. Then, when all the veggies are skinned or chopped (onions) or smushed (garlic) I use our handheld Stick Blender and puree everything in the pot. I've made double recipes and that's fine, too. I've used cider vinegar, white vinegar, Balsamic vinegar ... but no Red Wine Vinegar because I can't seem to find it in the canning kitchen at the moment. I've been known to add a small "glug" of red wine into the pot, too. I used only white vinegar with the Yellow spread, though, because I wanted a pretty color. Of course I cook it up until it's the consistency I want. I also made some spread with a bunch of those purple skinned peppers (got a large bag of "old" peppers that were just fine from our produce market) and their color was a bit weird. The purple skin changes to a murky green when cooked. I think I used part white and part Balsamic vinegar with those. And I made a batch with those very pale yellow-green peppers. Good, but not the most attractive. The pretties colors are the traditional Red and the bright Yellow. Anyway, I'm having fun, making a mess of things, and because it's not chocolate, I'm not gaining weight in the process of cooking! Thanks, Kathy
...See More
Hydrangea leaves turning deep purple at edges
Q
Comments (8)
This is probably the only worthwhile place to talk about hydrangeas, so look no further! But rest easy! The issue here is not ID'ing a problem but ID'ing the plant itself. You have a Preziosa, a cross of macrophylla and serrata types that was hybridized over 50 years ago. It simply behaves this way. In fact it is prized for its combination of foliage color and "washed denim" blooms. See the link to another recent thread below; someone else just had this issue with identifying what was going on with their shrub. Into the fall, the leaves will continue this trend until they fall off, and the process will repeat each year. PS: Cut off those brown stems with nothing on them (or at least down to where there is growth). They're history. Repeat this process about every 1st of June, as you *will* get fair amount regrowth from old wood. Do not prune to the ground or you will lose next year's flowers. Simply deadhead after flowering and prune out dead wood next mid-spring. Here is a link that might be useful: Recent Post about Purple Leaves / Preziosa
...See More
Tomato leaves have light brown patches & purple undersides
Q
Comments (1)
Update: as of today, there are now spots on a Brandywine & a Roma plant. I guess I jinxed them. :(
...See More
Purple top, brown edge of leaves and a strange bug!
Q
Comments (1)
Critter in the soil -- very fuzzy image, but by the shape I'd say pupal cases of moths. Non-feeding stage. To find out who they are, place in a covered clear container. Place where you'll see it daily but NOT in the sun. Eventually, moth will emerge.
...See More
sudzy
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Angel for the link, it's now in my bookmarks. I double checked the plants. It's not the stems, just looks like someone outlined the leaves with a purple marker.
I had put bone meal down when I planted. Probably not enough though. I always half the recommendations.

Solan: Yeah, I hear you. I'm just outside of Springfield so my weather has been pretty much like you just described. It finally got close to hot today! Thanks for the link,it's interesting. :_
We're at 94 and humid. Same is forcasted for tomorrow. Then another storm is coming though and we're dropping into low eighties.
Yes to a crappy May. My garden was a good two weeks behind the norm for planting. Hoping for a late fall, I've heavily planted for fall crops.
A BIG thanks to you both for replying. :)
angelady777 (Angela) - Zone 6
15 years ago
Sudzy, did you check out the drop-down menu and click 'Go'? There is another pic with just the leaves being purple. Maybe it's not the most user friendly site, but once you figure it out, it's great. I apologize... I should have warned you about that!

~Angela
sudzy
Original Author
15 years ago
Awww awfully sweet of you to come back and tell me that Angela. You're absolutely right, I had not "clicked go". Yep, the next picture is exactly what my plant looks like. Perhaps not so severe. I'll get the bone meal back out. Thanks so much. Sue
solanaceae
15 years ago
There are a few details related to this. Cool weather is lack of phosphorus only because the plant can't uptake it when its too cool or too wet. If there is also a lack of it in the soil then that can still be a problem with mature plants since they tend to have to root into it. Adding it later is difficult.
sudzy
Original Author
15 years ago
Solanaceae: Thanks for the above info. I did not know it. I appreciate your helping. Sue

Roma Tomatoes--Bottom leaves have a purple edging

Comments (7)

angelady777 (Angela) - Zone 6

solanaceae

Related Discussions

sudzy
Original Author

angelady777 (Angela) - Zone 6

sudzy
Original Author

solanaceae

sudzy
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Roma Tomatoes--Bottom leaves have a purple edging

Comments (7)

angelady777 (Angela) - Zone 6

solanaceae

Related Discussions

sudzyOriginal Author

angelady777 (Angela) - Zone 6

sudzyOriginal Author

solanaceae

sudzyOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

sudzy
Original Author

sudzy
Original Author

sudzy
Original Author