Timing for lights

DeanRIowa · April 18, 2008

This is the first time I was starting my own tomato seeds and I planted them one week ago.

Three days ago there was not any plants, and I was gone for the last two days. This morning I looked and some of plants where 2 - 2 1/2 inches tall already, therefore I put them under the lights. I have the lights maybe 1/2 inch for the tallest.

Did I wait to long for putting them under lights and are they going to be leggy? I guess I always could replant some.

thanks,

Dean

feldon30 · April 18, 2008

If they are 2 1/2 inches tall and just at the cotyledon stage, then yes, they will initially be leggy, but you can plant them deep when you transplant into 4" pots. You can put a gentle oscillating fan on them to encourage them to grow thicker stems if you wish.

If I were going out of town and had just started seeds, I would put the seed trays (with the clear plastic covers on them if they have not germinated yet) under the fluorescent lights and just leave them on. I have seen no any adverse affects with a few days of 24 hour light. I've left them on by accident or when I've gone out of town.

rxkeith · April 18, 2008

ideally, seeds go under the lights as soon as they sprout. i keep my lights on a timer for 16 hours. leggy isn't a problem at this stage. i once went out of town for a few days, shortly after planting some pepper seeds thinking they wouldn't be up when i got back. not only had they sprouted, they looked like straws with 2 little green leaves on top. i just transplanted them deep, and they were fine. you shouldn't have a problem. if you can keep the plants growing between 65-70 degrees, and don't over water, keep the lights 1-2 inches above their heads, then they should not get too leggy.

keith

Patapsco Mike · April 18, 2008

You can do 24 hour light the entire time and not hurt the plants. You can actually start your plants considerably later and still get them ready in time by doing this. The plants grow in direct proportion to the volume and duration of light. More time means more light, and thus more growth. And plants don't need darkness at all when you are starting them. So when in doubt, leave it on.

April 18, 2008	#1
DeanRIowa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 5a - NE Iowa Posts: 416	Timing for lights This is the first time I was starting my own tomato seeds and I planted them one week ago. Three days ago there was not any plants, and I was gone for the last two days. This morning I looked and some of plants where 2 - 2 1/2 inches tall already, therefore I put them under the lights. I have the lights maybe 1/2 inch for the tallest. Did I wait to long for putting them under lights and are they going to be leggy? I guess I always could replant some. thanks, Dean

April 18, 2008	#2
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	If they are 2 1/2 inches tall and just at the cotyledon stage, then yes, they will initially be leggy, but you can plant them deep when you transplant into 4" pots. You can put a gentle oscillating fan on them to encourage them to grow thicker stems if you wish. If I were going out of town and had just started seeds, I would put the seed trays (with the clear plastic covers on them if they have not germinated yet) under the fluorescent lights and just leave them on. I have seen no any adverse affects with a few days of 24 hour light. I've left them on by accident or when I've gone out of town. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

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April 18, 2008	#3
rxkeith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Back in da U.P. Posts: 1,848	ideally, seeds go under the lights as soon as they sprout. i keep my lights on a timer for 16 hours. leggy isn't a problem at this stage. i once went out of town for a few days, shortly after planting some pepper seeds thinking they wouldn't be up when i got back. not only had they sprouted, they looked like straws with 2 little green leaves on top. i just transplanted them deep, and they were fine. you shouldn't have a problem. if you can keep the plants growing between 65-70 degrees, and don't over water, keep the lights 1-2 inches above their heads, then they should not get too leggy. keith

April 18, 2008	#4
Patapsco Mike Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ellicott City, MD Posts: 62	You can do 24 hour light the entire time and not hurt the plants. You can actually start your plants considerably later and still get them ready in time by doing this. The plants grow in direct proportion to the volume and duration of light. More time means more light, and thus more growth. And plants don't need darkness at all when you are starting them. So when in doubt, leave it on.