I need help with my babies!

MoonlessNightx · April 1, 2011

I planted sweetie tomatoes indoors to start the seedlings. I've tried to get them in the best lighting spot possible but they're still really leggy and thin and floppy. Any hints or ideas for me?

Gobig_or_Gohome_toms · April 1, 2011

It might be lack of light being started indoors do you have any fluorescent lights to suppliment the available natural light? I use jump start fluorescent lights to start my seedlings indoors and with a recent order will now have 10 2 foot lights. Gurney's has a $100 dollars off a $200 dollar purcahse so 3 lights at 69.99 ends up with shipping and discount to be $125.

Here is a picture of last years set up:
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...ghlight=gobigs

Craig

MoonlessNightx · April 2, 2011

While I am extremely jealous of your set up, I unfortunately do not have the money for that. Can I put a lamp with a CFL in it right above them and pretend it does the same thing? All my other plants are doing so well. My pumpkin seedlings are gorgeous! It's sad that my tomatoes are sad as they've been my favorite food since I was 2.

tam91 · April 2, 2011

When you repot them, bury them deep - right up to the first set of leaves.

Many of us use regular flourescent shop lights - $10 for a fixture at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Put the lights only an inch or two above the plants.

b54red · April 2, 2011

Get them outdoors in the sunlight for a little while if the temps are above 35 or so. No artificial lighting will do what a little sunlight can do. Even when mine are first sprouting if we have a warm enough day I will take them outside for an hour every chance I can and as they become accustomed to the sunlight I increase the amount of time that they stay out if the weather is permitting. As soon as our temps were above freezing the little seedlings were already hardened off enough to stay outside all day. It takes a lot of time to do this but if you don't have too many trays it shouldn't be too difficult. I do it with all of my vegetables, not just tomatoes. It makes transplanting into the harsh environment of the garden less of a shock when the time comes.

April 1, 2011	#1
MoonlessNightx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 9	I need help with my babies! I planted sweetie tomatoes indoors to start the seedlings. I've tried to get them in the best lighting spot possible but they're still really leggy and thin and floppy. Any hints or ideas for me?

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April 1, 2011	#2
Gobig_or_Gohome_toms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Zone 4 Lake Minnetonka, MN Posts: 967	It might be lack of light being started indoors do you have any fluorescent lights to suppliment the available natural light? I use jump start fluorescent lights to start my seedlings indoors and with a recent order will now have 10 2 foot lights. Gurney's has a $100 dollars off a $200 dollar purcahse so 3 lights at 69.99 ends up with shipping and discount to be $125. Here is a picture of last years set up: http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...ghlight=gobigs Craig

April 2, 2011	#3
MoonlessNightx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 9	While I am extremely jealous of your set up, I unfortunately do not have the money for that. Can I put a lamp with a CFL in it right above them and pretend it does the same thing? All my other plants are doing so well. My pumpkin seedlings are gorgeous! It's sad that my tomatoes are sad as they've been my favorite food since I was 2.

April 2, 2011	#4
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	When you repot them, bury them deep - right up to the first set of leaves. Many of us use regular flourescent shop lights - $10 for a fixture at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Put the lights only an inch or two above the plants.

April 2, 2011	#5
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Get them outdoors in the sunlight for a little while if the temps are above 35 or so. No artificial lighting will do what a little sunlight can do. Even when mine are first sprouting if we have a warm enough day I will take them outside for an hour every chance I can and as they become accustomed to the sunlight I increase the amount of time that they stay out if the weather is permitting. As soon as our temps were above freezing the little seedlings were already hardened off enough to stay outside all day. It takes a lot of time to do this but if you don't have too many trays it shouldn't be too difficult. I do it with all of my vegetables, not just tomatoes. It makes transplanting into the harsh environment of the garden less of a shock when the time comes.