New to growing your own tomatoes? This is the forum to learn the successful techniques used by seasoned tomato growers. Questions are welcome, too.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: mobile zone 8
Posts: 83
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I started my plants a little later then it's suggested in our area.
When I repotted to 3 1/2 and 4 inch pots I used miracle grow potting soil. They took off, and this past Saturday I started the hardening process. At that point a third of the plants mainly the black Cherrys were 19-20 inches tall. For the last few nights the temps were in the higher 50's and during the day 65-69 with cloudy skies and very high humidity. Tomorrow a front is moving in temps and it Will dip anywhere from 30-33. Plus the winds will be quite high along with some rain so I brought them inside this evening. Now I recently dropped my shelf on the seed rack to 30 inches. It's not enough. Those same plants are now 26 or higher. My other issue was the rain we got last week and I was able to till under my cover crop of Crimson clover and added compost I made last summer this part Sunday. Plus we got a fair amount on Monday maybe an inch. I don't know how much rain we will receive tomorrow. Hopefully the front will move thru quickly. So now I have to hope by Sunday the garden will be dry enough to plant the tomatoes. If not and I have around 70-72 plants someone mentioned cutting off the tops and it would not hurt the plant. As it is when I turn on the shoplights tomorrow some of them will be on top of the t-8 bulbs Any advice is appreciated.
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Southern WI
Posts: 2,742
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Well you're in a bit of a pickle. Advice? If you can move the lights and plants to a room that is very cool like in the 50s, it would greatly slow growth and do no harm to the plants. I've never topped a tomato plant so I can't say one way or another there. While it won't help for 2015 next year start your seeds later--this is a learning experience. No one gets it all right the first time.
![]() Also when you plant them out plant them very deep. Also try googling trench planting method for tomatoes. Good luck! |
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#3 |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
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Gregory, I found this video tonight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gceF7C3fCA I learned a lot. About three and half minutes into the video, it tells how to deal with those really tall transplants. I watched other videos saying the same thing.
Cutting off the tops are to limit the plant height after they are planted in the ground are outgrowing the support. Hopefully this helps some. |
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Omaha Zone 5
Posts: 2,514
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You never know what the weather will be like. At least you were ready if the weather had cooperated.
What jmsieglaff said, especially the cooler temp to slow the growth if for an extended period. Its not a disaster by any means! Can you give them a few hours of mid afternoon dappled sun / partial shade when the temp is above 40 instead of the artificial light? For a few days they'll be fine. Putting them close to the bulbs will do more harm than good. I always trench plant and start with larger seedlings than most. I live in an especially windy area. I use consecutively larger pots to keep the growth steady. At plant out they'll be about a foot but buried three times. At planting time snap off the lower leaves and leave just a few at the top. Dig a narrow trench the size of the stem and just a few inches deep. Line the trench with the bare stem and gently bend up and fill in. The plant will right itself. I leave about 6 inches out of the ground and it takes off and gets huge roots. Just make sure there are no leaves touching the ground to invite disease. Hope you get some sun soon . I think you are getting our weather. - Lisa Last edited by greenthumbomaha; March 4, 2015 at 11:18 PM. Reason: Interesting video ! |
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#5 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: mobile zone 8
Posts: 83
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Like u said its a growing experience. In the directors defense he just stresses the fact we have such a short growing season due to by July the nights are in the 80's and extremely high humidity. I am able to still grow cherrys in July but they taste horrible
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#6 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: mobile zone 8
Posts: 83
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#7 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7
Posts: 3,207
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That should take care of the light issue. I notice the plants always start growing better once they are going outside. |
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#8 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Southern WI
Posts: 2,742
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Talking to folks in your area is the right thing to do, at least to get in the ballpark, but variables specific to your seedling growing setup will dictate when you should start yours. |
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#9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: mobile zone 8
Posts: 83
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As long as we don't get a freeze everything should be okay. 14 in pots and 42 in the ground. i had to trench plant the vast majority.
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