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Tomato seedlings turned purple or whitish: why the color changed and how to save the plants
14.01.2023 02:30
Updated: 13.04.2023 10:48
If the leaves of tomato seedlings turn purple, many gardeners begin to worry and do not know what to do.
Therefore, it is worth taking a closer look at the main causes and methods of struggle.
Disease
First of all, it is worth sorting out the existing diseases of seedlings. If the leaves have turned white and a gray outline has appeared, most likely we are talking about septoria. This is a fungal disease that occurs due to high humidity.
The key problem is that the disease can kill plants before the first fruits appear.
If the damage is minor, tomatoes can still be saved, but delay is unacceptable. Here are some tips:
- Treatment is carried out with phytosporin or other preparations.
- Reduce the amount of soil watering.
- Reduce air humidity.
If we consider brown spotting, then here it may be a lesion by cladosporiosis. The disease progresses quite actively in greenhouses that are poorly ventilated. Of course, the cause of this disease is also high humidity.
Cold climate
Tomato seedlings are demanding of the conditions in which they are grown. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the air temperature.
If brown or purple color begins to appear, the plant is getting cold.
We can recall the key fact: if the ambient temperature is below +15 degrees, then tomatoes begin to gradually die. As practice shows, at such a temperature, the growth of tomatoes begins to slow down after about a week, and the leaves can change color.
The plant can only be saved if it is immediately transferred to a greenhouse or hotbed. The temperature there should be about +20 degrees. The tomatoes will need one week to restore their natural color.
Phosphorus deficiency
Tomatoes need phosphorus, if there is a deficiency of this element, a lot of problems begin to arise. Lack of phosphorus always has a negative effect on the formation of the root system and stems. And the appearance of spots of this color is simply a natural result.
Bright sun
Sunburn is another cause that should not be ruled out. Sunburn starts to appear on tomato leaves as small spots. Gradually, the spots start to increase in size and the leaves fall off.
It is important to understand a simple fact: if most of the leaves are in place, saving the tomatoes will not be difficult. There is a proven method: the seedlings are covered with agrofibre or simply placed in the shade.
To protect tomatoes, it is recommended to use covering material only in extreme heat. If the method is used constantly, there is no point in talking about the normal development of crops. The method has proven itself, but it is worth remembering about reasonable limits.
