Leggy Plants- What did I do wrong?

Ice Cream · March 29, 2017

This was my first year of growing tomatoes from seed (I wanted heirlooms that I couldn't buy as plants), and I am trying to figure out why they are so leggy. It seems I did everything "right" from what I have read on the internet, so I am having a hard time trying to pinpoint what I did wrong.

I used the soil block technique and planted them in 2 inch blocks using Fort Vee from Vermont Compost Company.
I planted a total of 36, and had to replant 4 due to not germinating. The varieties were all heirlooms: Louisiana Red, Louisiana Dixie, Jeff Davis, General Lee, and Rebel Yell.
Once they germinated I had them under a single glow light (2ft T5 24watt fluorescent grow light). I kept the grow light 2-3" from the plants and the light was turned on for 12-14 hours a day. The room had a temperature of approximately 65* at night and 75* during the day.
I repotted into 4 inch Jiffy pots one month after planting (used Fort Vee in the pots).
Now, two months after planting I have one foot tall plants with skinny stems and 2-3 branches. I have had to stake them up to keep them from falling over.

Any ideas on why my plants are so leggy? Any ideas on what I did wrong?

I'm going to plant them this week weather permitting with just the top 3" above ground.

March 29, 2017	#1
Ice Cream Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: The Delta Posts: 2	Leggy Plants- What did I do wrong? This was my first year of growing tomatoes from seed (I wanted heirlooms that I couldn't buy as plants), and I am trying to figure out why they are so leggy. It seems I did everything "right" from what I have read on the internet, so I am having a hard time trying to pinpoint what I did wrong. I used the soil block technique and planted them in 2 inch blocks using Fort Vee from Vermont Compost Company. I planted a total of 36, and had to replant 4 due to not germinating. The varieties were all heirlooms: Louisiana Red, Louisiana Dixie, Jeff Davis, General Lee, and Rebel Yell. Once they germinated I had them under a single glow light (2ft T5 24watt fluorescent grow light). I kept the grow light 2-3" from the plants and the light was turned on for 12-14 hours a day. The room had a temperature of approximately 65* at night and 75* during the day. I repotted into 4 inch Jiffy pots one month after planting (used Fort Vee in the pots). Now, two months after planting I have one foot tall plants with skinny stems and 2-3 branches. I have had to stake them up to keep them from falling over. Any ideas on why my plants are so leggy? Any ideas on what I did wrong? I'm going to plant them this week weather permitting with just the top 3" above ground.