My tomato starts

[tqn626]

Started these tomatoes from seed under 6500k 65 watt light about a month ago. In the process of hardening them off.




They really took off when I transplanted them into the cups with some mycorrhizae.

[FreyaFL]

These look really sturdy and beautiful! What varieties? As for the mycorrhizae, I'm curious as to what benefits it's supposed to have for the seedlings/plants. Is it a fertilizer? Or, will it help fight root knot nematodes (I saw a film once about how some kind of fungi does this.)

[tqn626]

Originally Posted by FreyaFL

These look really sturdy and beautiful! What varieties? As for the mycorrhizae, I'm curious as to what benefits it's supposed to have for the seedlings/plants. Is it a fertilizer? Or, will it help fight root knot nematodes (I saw a film once about how some kind of fungi does this.)

Cherokee purple
Amish Paste
Peacevine cherry
Black Cherry
Black vernissage (Grows really weird, some grows two mainstems and just stops, weird batch of seeds I guess)

Mycorrhizae helps plants uptake nutrients by latching onto the roots. I don't know if it will fight off root knot nematodes.

[sio2rocks]

Nice looking plants. I used to use solo cups too but now I find that a square pot actually produces a better root system. From my understanding (talking with some mycorrhizae geniuses aka Dr. Earth tradesmen) the better uptake of nutrients, strengthening of the root system, and protection via the fibrous fungi surrounding the roots all help to limit disease susceptibility and protect from various pathogens/creatures. In addition a healthy plant is much less likely to fall victim to viruses and other pathogens. My 2cents.

Here are my babies, almost ready to go out to the hothouse to get hardened off and transplanted to quart containers:

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by sio2rocks

Nice looking plants. I used to use solo cups too but now I find that a square pot actually produces a better root system. From my understanding (talking with some mycorrhizae geniuses aka Dr. Earth tradesmen) the better uptake of nutrients, strengthening of the root system, and protection via the fibrous fungi surrounding the roots all help to limit disease susceptibility and protect from various pathogens/creatures. In addition a healthy plant is much less likely to fall victim to viruses and other pathogens. My 2cents.

Here are my babies, almost ready to go out to the hothouse to get hardened off and transplanted to quart containers:

Those look awesome! You are way ahead of me!

[sio2rocks]

Originally Posted by Redbaron

Those look awesome! You are way ahead of me!

Yeah I got a bit over zealous this year and started about 10 days before I did last year. This year I have a large hot house that I can move them to when they get too big for the house. I'm hoping to have tomatoes by last week of march for the very early varieties. Love having something to protect my tender plants in our crazy springs here in OK.

[tqn626]

I wanted to use the big cells for my plants but couldn't find them at the store and I didn't want to wait for shipping. I just ended up sticking them in the red cups.

I also been feeding one batch of plants with some humic acid to see if there's any difference. Nothing yet, but I just transplanted to cups.

I should of planted more black vernissage tomatoes, 3 of the 6 look funky. 2 long stems sticking out of the main stem. The other 3 look like regular tomato plants.

I think i'm going to start some more amish paste, 12 is not enough!.

Here another photo from a week ago.



Here my black vernissage, looks weird

[sio2rocks]

Originally Posted by tqn626

I wanted to use the big cells for my plants but couldn't find them at the store and I didn't want to wait for shipping. I just ended up sticking them in the red cups.

I also been feeding one batch of plants with some humic acid to see if there's any difference. Nothing yet, but I just transplanted to cups.

I should of planted more black vernissage tomatoes, 3 of the 6 look funky. 2 long stems sticking out of the main stem. The other 3 look like regular tomato plants.

I really like to use fish emulsion+seaweed extract on my plants. Every time I use it I notice a jump in growth and vigor. I work at a nursery so I always have access to flat fillers.
This year I added mycorrhizae + transplant ferts when I repotted from 72 cell seedling trays to the 4" pots I have my bigger plants in now. I think it really made a difference. I use mycos 30 by extreme gardening. The fish/seaweed I use is from saltwater farms.com

Colin

[tqn626]

Originally Posted by sio2rocks

This year I added mycorrhizae + transplant ferts when I repotted from 72 cell seedling trays to the 4" pots I have my bigger plants in now. I think it really made a difference. I use mycos 30 by extreme gardening. The fish/seaweed I use is from saltwater farms.com

Colin

Interesting, I got some high grade fish hydrolysate that I used in my compost teas called Seafuel bloom. maybe I should try some on a couple. I have used mycos 30 before, currently using Rooters Mycorrhizae, both works great.

I also have some superthrive, yet to use it because it inorganic. Not even sure why I bought it.

[b54red]

Originally Posted by tqn626

I wanted to use the big cells for my plants but couldn't find them at the store and I didn't want to wait for shipping. I just ended up sticking them in the red cups.

I also been feeding one batch of plants with some humic acid to see if there's any difference. Nothing yet, but I just transplanted to cups.

I should of planted more black vernissage tomatoes, 3 of the 6 look funky. 2 long stems sticking out of the main stem. The other 3 look like regular tomato plants.

I think i'm going to start some more amish paste, 12 is not enough!.

Here another photo from a week ago.



Here my black vernissage, looks weird

I use coffee cups that I get at Dollar General. They are very easy to use, take writing with a Sharpie really good and are big enough for the plants unless we have a very late freeze then I will pot up to the red solo cups if necessary. I have reused the cups for years. I just mark through the old writing and relabel them. Best thing is they are really cheap and easy to put drain holes in.

Bill

[Ms. Jitomate]

Great job, tqn626, I was wondering about you! I can't see a couple of photos because they are too dark. Are your containers ready?

[tqn626]

Originally Posted by Ms. Jitomate

Great job, tqn626, I was wondering about you! I can't see a couple of photos because they are too dark. Are your containers ready?

Took the pictures at night for the last two. Still working on the containers, I may just plant the tomatoes in the ground.

[tqn626]

This weather is getting annoying, my tomato plants are getting a little too big for the cups.

[tqn626]

Here's my biggest tomato plant currently. Black Cherry. Mixed i used for this is 1/3rd, LGM planting mix, 1/4th cup vermiculite, 1/3rd coco coir, 1/4th worm castings, and 2 red cup azomite. I've been feeding it a mild nitrogen base compost tea about every 2 weeks, going to start doing weekly.


Really learned a lot this season from a bunch of experiments.

[billy_prewitt]

I planted these babies March 15th using the dense planting method and tomorrow I'm putting them in 3 inch pots. Normally last frost is end of April and we had a snow flurry this AM and a high of mid 40's today..
I have an attached green house but its not heated soooo. I have to balance the under grow lights to green house timing... without having to move all those pots inside at night .. we are still getting low 20 at night... ect. BTW these are cherokee purples and beefsteaks