Do some varieties have purple stems?

Tomatovator · April 24, 2007

I planted 4 tomato plants early in containers. Two Ugly tomatoes (seeds from TGS) have very purple stems. They are growing nicely and even have blossoms starting to form. The other two I planted are Moskvich (seeds from TV member) and the stems are green. They also have blossoms forming. All 4 plants are in the same conditions, potting mix, etc. I was just wondering if purple stems are always a sign of a problem or if some varieties have purple stems all the time.

korney19 · April 24, 2007

It's known as anthocyanin, and is in the genes. It's common on pepper plants too, just look in the joints between stems/branches. And there are genes in many tomatoes that make it exhibit no red/purple stem coloring too.

**nctomatoman** · April 24, 2007

I've found that with the exception of two varieties, there tends to be a slightly purplish cast to the stems of tomato seedlings (and if the seed coat sticks to the cotyledons, the purple coloration is delayed until they fall off!). However, in Ildi and Malschor Isura (both yellow grape shaped tomatoes), the stems are very pale whitish green. Odd the things you notice when you stare at thousands of seedlings over many years!

michael johnson · April 25, 2007

Then of course there is the new blue tomato they have been talking about on here, which has purple/blue stems all the time- I think it was probably Vince-chemist that was talking about it, but cant quite remember.

Most tomato seedlings will exhibit reddish to purple stems if they get a little bit on the cool side/some more than others, but the minute you put them in a warmer environment they go back to a pale translucent green again- hardening them off for outside planting usually produces pink to purple stems.

Tomatovator · April 25, 2007

The plants I'm talking about are over 12" tall and were planted in containers about a month ago. They are no longer seedlings but pretty big plants with purple stems.

CLa · April 25, 2007

I have noticed that the well fertilized plants at home depot were all very thick stems, and very purple. I also bought some Sea Green potting mix, which had a slow release, was a terrible experience, over fertilized my plants, stunted many of them, but the ones that were not too affected still wee very purple as compared to a normal green to light green planted in my pure compost. So I think fertilizer at least is one cause of that if thats what your talking about. Dark green leaves and purple stems. My best guess

April 24, 2007	#1
Tomatovator Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Zone 6 Posts: 461	Do some varieties have purple stems? I planted 4 tomato plants early in containers. Two Ugly tomatoes (seeds from TGS) have very purple stems. They are growing nicely and even have blossoms starting to form. The other two I planted are Moskvich (seeds from TV member) and the stems are green. They also have blossoms forming. All 4 plants are in the same conditions, potting mix, etc. I was just wondering if purple stems are always a sign of a problem or if some varieties have purple stems all the time.

April 24, 2007	#3
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	I've found that with the exception of two varieties, there tends to be a slightly purplish cast to the stems of tomato seedlings (and if the seed coat sticks to the cotyledons, the purple coloration is delayed until they fall off!). However, in Ildi and Malschor Isura (both yellow grape shaped tomatoes), the stems are very pale whitish green. Odd the things you notice when you stare at thousands of seedlings over many years! __________________ Craig

April 24, 2007	#2
korney19 Buffalo-Niagara Tomato TasteFest™ Co-Founder Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Niagara Frontier Posts: 942	It's known as anthocyanin, and is in the genes. It's common on pepper plants too, just look in the joints between stems/branches. And there are genes in many tomatoes that make it exhibit no red/purple stem coloring too.

April 25, 2007	#4
michael johnson Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK. Posts: 960	Then of course there is the new blue tomato they have been talking about on here, which has purple/blue stems all the time- I think it was probably Vince-chemist that was talking about it, but cant quite remember. Most tomato seedlings will exhibit reddish to purple stems if they get a little bit on the cool side/some more than others, but the minute you put them in a warmer environment they go back to a pale translucent green again- hardening them off for outside planting usually produces pink to purple stems.

April 25, 2007	#6
CLa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Central Louisiana. Zone: 8 Posts: 207	I have noticed that the well fertilized plants at home depot were all very thick stems, and very purple. I also bought some Sea Green potting mix, which had a slow release, was a terrible experience, over fertilized my plants, stunted many of them, but the ones that were not too affected still wee very purple as compared to a normal green to light green planted in my pure compost. So I think fertilizer at least is one cause of that if thats what your talking about. Dark green leaves and purple stems. My best guess