My seedlings are unhappy

[platys]

Happy happy news - my seedlings are finally growing. I've been bringing them inside every night before bed, and putting them back under the lights as I leave for work. I also potted up the most unhappy looking of the bunch, and was pleased to find tons of root development - just no foliage. The potted up ones have taken off, and all of them have true leaves at some stage. The ones still in my tray either have true leaves, or came up a lot later than the others. Those ones all look super happy.

So, perhaps not all hope is lost.

[feldon30]

Those are still growing extremely slowly. I would look at replacement plants at a nursery if possible.

I'd also ditch that peat pot setup and get something plastic. Plastic can be washed and reused for many years and does not encourage mold or mildew or wick moisture away from the plants as peat containers do.

[platys]

I already have a few plants pre-ordered through a seller I've used before - that was when I thought I had no Rutgers hope at all. I can up my order with her, if she has any extras. And Tam91 was offered to help, thank goodness.

It has been a learning experience - I'll definitely use plastic trays next year. This is my first year attempting to grow from seed. I'll get this whole tomato thing figured out eventually.

[platys]

My poor little tomatoes. Potting up helped a bit, but are still quite petite.


Tomatoes growing by knittergail, on Flickr


Tomatoes getting bigger by knittergail, on Flickr

I am seeing new growth every day, other than that poor Brandywine OTV in the front.

In theory, my planting date is May 15th, but its just not warming up here in Chicago. The low tonight is 32 degrees. I'm guessing I'll be planting closer to June 1st.

[dice]

By then they will be bigger. I planted a few that size. I expect
them to make it, but if they do not, I have backups.

[platys]

I have back ups reserved through some local plant sellers, so all won't be lost. If they all make it, my husband might kill me, since I'll go from the promised 12 plants to about 20.

[Sorellina]

Ciao platys-

I wouldn't worry so much about the size of your plants. I'm in zone 5b and many of mine are the same size as yours. I also plant out between the last week of May and the first week of June. You should be fine.

[platys]

After all my hand wringing, it looks like I have viable tomato plants.


Tomato plants from above by knittergail, on Flickr


Tomatoes from seed by knittergail, on Flickr

Some of them might even look a smidge stocky.

[kath]

They look just fine, indeed! Keep giving them light and as much warmth as you can given the circumstances and they'll be ready to transplant really soon. It's natural to worry a bit, but they're really pretty tough.

[BigBrownDogHouse]

I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum. I'm north of you up in the McHenry area and I think I started a bit too early this year. I just couldn't wait any longer.

I have about 90 plants and about 25 of them basically in the 20-25 inch tall range. Most of the others aren't too far behind. With the recent frost warnings in the area(and big hail storm last week), I'm glad I haven't planted them in the garden yet but I cannot hold off too much longer.

When friends walk into my screenroom or out on the deck, their first response is WHOOOOOAAAA!

[platys]

I grew mine in the unheated greenhouse portion of my garage. And calling it a greenhouse is a stretch. So they stayed pretty cold, even with a heat mat and the lights. With it warming up, they've taken off. I'm starting to harden them off so I can plant them this weekend, and I'm not sure I'll be able to fit them back under the lights tonight (I put them outside in a protected area this morning.)

[BigBrownDogHouse]

Originally Posted by platys

With it warming up, they've taken off.

And once they hit the soil outside, they'll take off again.

I'm planning for planting this weekend also. Forecast has us at 82 this Sunday in this area even though there are lows in the lower 40's for next week, we should be okay now. You never know around here but I'm hoping for the best. I certainly have plenty of back-ups.