Starting tomato seeds for the garden.

augiedog55 · February 14, 2013

I've got several questions for you pro's. I'm starting my tomatoes from seed for the first time this sping. I'll be germinating my seed up stairs in the computer room on a heat mat and then taking the down stairs to the lights. Its 58 degrees down where the lights are.I've been practicing over the fall and winter to get plants to 6" tall with some great luck since I got a heat mat with a thermostat.
Ok I'll be starting around 15 varietites . I'll be starting around 50 seeds for me (12 plants) and to give the rest away. I 've got a 72 cell tray to start them in. I'll be starting around 5 seeds of each kind per cell. Heres my first question. Do I wait until all 15 cells have their seeds up before pulling the flat off the heat mat to move to the lights? I've read several places that say when you see the first signs of life remove your seedling from the mat and go to the lights. I'm thinking that not all 15 varities will germinate at the same time or day. I have noticed that some seeds take 5 day and other take ten.. So if I remove the tray on say the 5th day when first life is seen will that not keep say the plant that take 10 days from germinating? do I wait until all are up?.. What If one variety does germinate at all? So I guess I need to know when to remove the tray from heat to the lights. I'll only have one shot to hit my target date. I hope my rambling isn't to confusing.
Any help would be appreciated
Bruce

February 14, 2013	#1
augiedog55 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: oak grove mo Posts: 406	Starting tomato seeds for the garden. I've got several questions for you pro's. I'm starting my tomatoes from seed for the first time this sping. I'll be germinating my seed up stairs in the computer room on a heat mat and then taking the down stairs to the lights. Its 58 degrees down where the lights are.I've been practicing over the fall and winter to get plants to 6" tall with some great luck since I got a heat mat with a thermostat. Ok I'll be starting around 15 varietites . I'll be starting around 50 seeds for me (12 plants) and to give the rest away. I 've got a 72 cell tray to start them in. I'll be starting around 5 seeds of each kind per cell. Heres my first question. Do I wait until all 15 cells have their seeds up before pulling the flat off the heat mat to move to the lights? I've read several places that say when you see the first signs of life remove your seedling from the mat and go to the lights. I'm thinking that not all 15 varities will germinate at the same time or day. I have noticed that some seeds take 5 day and other take ten.. So if I remove the tray on say the 5th day when first life is seen will that not keep say the plant that take 10 days from germinating? do I wait until all are up?.. What If one variety does germinate at all? So I guess I need to know when to remove the tray from heat to the lights. I'll only have one shot to hit my target date. I hope my rambling isn't to confusing. Any help would be appreciated Bruce Last edited by augiedog55; February 14, 2013 at 11:22 AM.