Purple Tomato Leaves: Phosphorus Deficiency from Cold, Wet Soil

Purplish, stunted tomato leaves indicate phosphorus deficiency—often triggered by cool, wet soil that locks up nutrients. This is not calcium deficiency (which causes tip die-back).

Remedies

• Apply bone meal around plants; rain will water it in.
• Foliar feed with fish emulsion for quick uptake.
• Most importantly: wait for warmer, drier weather. Plants recover naturally once soil conditions improve.

Don't add calcium—it won't help and may imbalance soil further.