Growing too fast?

[suvoth]

I am growing tomatoes (cherokee purple, caspian pink and sweetie cherry tomatoes) as well as King of the North bell peppers. I am a newbie, first timer and I live in zone 4b. I read somewhere to start seeds 6 to 8 weeks ahead of time from last frost (mine is May 20th). So I began my very first attempt at germination of my seeds on the 20th of March (24 days ago). Well...here's the ting, they are doing too well! My plants are huge already and I am wondering how I can slow them down a bit without damaging them? I already intend to stop fertilizing them (gave them originally 1/4 strength and then 1/2 strength a week apart). They came up essentially from ground on the 7th day of germination so they are only 17 days old

[Stvrob]

too warm

[suvoth]

Okay, time to turn down the thermostat ..thanks!

[Stvrob]

Look for some threads on "Cold treatment" to keep their growth in check. Basically, try to keep the temperature in the 50's. There is a great deal written here in the forum explaining it more fully.

[suvoth]

Thanks...so new to this but I didn't think the heat was a factor as I lived in a basement and they are now sitting on the floor where it is cooler. About 4 feet away I have an Air Heater on just to make sure they didn't get too cool but now it looks like it was too warm for them so I'll just try turning it off altogether and seeing if that works.

[Chucker]

I started mine on March 22nd, they all came up within a weeks or so, and now they are finally getting their first true leaves. I know you'd like less growth, but your plants are very impressive, regardless.

I've been using a method to start my seeds which I think makes the plants focus on root growth instead of top growth. I sow them on about 1/2" of DE in the bottom of 3" pots, and as they grow, I add potting mix once a week or so up to the leaves. By the time I plant out, the pots are all the way full with potting mix, but the plants are still nice and small.

[suvoth]

Thanks for the advice They've been in the cups for about 14 days. I'm thinking in a week they might be ready for a bigger pot? I'll have to guesstimate since I've never done this before lol

[rxkeith]

to give you an example of how cool,

once i repot my tomatoes to individual containers, they go downstairs under shop lights. temps there are in the low 60s at first, and may get to the mid 60s after a few weeks. under the lights it will be a bit warmer. they grow slow, but steady, and i rarely fertilize. when i do it is quarter strength, a couple weeks apart.

i pot up to a 6 to 9 ounce container, and thats it. too much work otherwise. if yours get too big, you may have to repot, and gently introduce them outside on warmer days when you start running out of room.

always a learning experience.


keith who still has several inches of snow on the garden, and some impressive snow dunes in the yard.

[suvoth]

lol thanks. Live and learn

[KarenO]

To grow midseason varieties like you have chosen in a northern garden, I think the larger and more vigorous your transplants are the better success you will have. Space is the main limitation but if you are only growing those pictured you should be able to manage. To determine when to transplant up, slip a plant out of the pot gently and look at the roots. I think yours will likely go another 2 or 3 weeks in the containers they are in before needing another pot up as the roots get a little tight. If you have the space, checking their growth with cold stress is not necessary but lay off the fertilizer for now.
Your plants look great and maybe if the weather cooperates you'll be able to get them out a little early. I have a small greenhouse so my situation is a little different and space under lights becomes a non issue soon but I plant from march 20th to about the second week in April depending on variety for tomatoes and early in March for peppers, hot ones taking longer than sweet ones to germinate.
Without a greenhouse I would aim for the 6 weeks (say about the 5-6 of April) instead of the 8 weeks next year for tomatoes and you will still have big plants ready to harden off after the first week in May aiming for planting out after May 20th.
Where in Canada are you?
Karen

[suvoth]

Thanks KarenO. I live in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The picture shows half of my plants, the other half are equally as large. I am giving away a few plants tomorrow so that will help clear up some space. Definitely will have to hold off next year! lol now I know

[RayR]

Let's see, you planted the seed on March 20th, that was not quite 3.5 weeks ago. That is pretty darn impressive growth. When did you start your peppers?

[suvoth]

Thanks Same time as my tomatoes

[Sodak]

I have trimmed the lower sets of leaves off and that seems to arrest growth for a while, with no negative effects on the plants. Agree with holding off on fertilizers.

[suvoth]

Do you mean the baby leaves? I haven't cut those off yet. The Cotyledon or whatever?