Transplant shock

**Patrina_Pepperina** · October 24, 2006

Every year I have a tray or two of seedlings that just don't do well (compared to other trays) and stay runts for absolutely ages!. I figured it must be something to do with the conditions on the days of potting up, all other things being equal. Here's what they look like:

http://au.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/fou...479scd.jpg&amp

On Sunday I happened to catch a bit of Gardening Australia on ABC TV, and the funny ol' guy showed how to keep tomatoes warm after transplanting to guard against transplant shock. He used clear plastic tubing to protect against cold winds, and he used clear plastic on the soil around the plant to warm it up.... Bingo! I had an answer as to why I always have trays full of runts, not individual runt seedlings amongst good ones!

I remembered that some of the days that I potted up seedlings weren't very warm. A couple days were when my dog dug into seedling trays, so I had no choice but to pot them up, but they were rather cold windy days/nights.

The difference between the largest seedlings and the smallest seedlings in the pic below are less than 2 weeks, but the largest ones are ready for transplant and the smallest ones are still weeks away!

http://au.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/fou...cd.jpg&.src=ph

Lessons for me are to make sure that I choose nice days for potting up next season, water with warm water, then put straight into the mini greenhouse that I didn't get around to putting up this season, due to a late start!!~*&#

I could really kick myself for the disappointing start to my tomato season!!! I think I'll be dumping a couple hundred seedlings this year

PP

Grub · October 25, 2006

Sorry to read this PP.

I think you will rescue them.

These were two of my strongest Red Brandywines. The one on the foreground is the same age as the one in the background. Sometimes they are sooo slow.

And then you get a good one, like Sophie's Choice, which is strong, about to throw flowers, and low maintenance.

And these dwarfs like this PL Sneezy won't take it lying down. Unlike Gulliver.

And even hot peppers like this overwintered Orange Habanero will come good in the end...

Other's like this Safi you might have to help along. But above we are here to have fun.

Mantis · October 25, 2006

This year sowed some super early on May 7th. They took off and really looked good, but now they are stagnant and I hope I get some fruit off them. Others sown later were not as thrifty but now are looking good.
Buggered if I know , sorry.
Yours are looking very healthy Grub eh

Grub · October 26, 2006

You bet, Manto. They are doing well. I was surprised to find how warm the soil was during the cold snaps, when I poked my finger under the mulch during the watering test. Toasty.

There are about six out of 60-odd that are slow and have the yellows, but by and large they are going well. Who would have thought Brandywine Sudduth would be the strongest of all? A cold climate tomato, IMHO.

I had a bloke do some pruning here today, way up there, removing a few limbs, and he took a few others away because he wanted to put even more light on some of the tomatoes. Top bloke. He loved the set up.

A lot is happening in this place at the moment through stealth. Can't say too much, but I might have gained yet another bed

I mean fishfern. Yuk. All due credit to our forebears, however, for making lots of bordered garden beds in the old houses. They liked growing stuff.

What I am finding, without a shadow of doubt, that the plants from saved seed that I grew last year or the year before or the year before that, seedling selections of past selections of past selections, are far and away the strongest.

Cherokee Purple is go thus far (ain't it always?). But so too is Indian Stripe. Flowers on both.

I have flowers on most things and on Songold they are open. In the wispy patch, Wes, German Red Strawberry, Prue, Speckled Roman, etc, all very strong.

Kimberly is great again but she might get beaten as the earliest this year. Russian Red is opening. Gotta have a few of these guys as mainstay potted ones.

Peppers are moving a bit, eggies are slow. Not hot enough for them yet.

Cheap thrills, but I'm getting high on that heady smell of tomato foliage again. Mmmm. I'm hanging and have it baadddddddd.

Mantis · October 26, 2006

I'm sure its the foliage smell that makes me linger in the greenhouse like a dopey bee.

Good news on the warm soil. Takes ages down here for the soil to warm up. Too many frosty nights. So I haven't put any mulch down yet. Waiting for the nights to warm up.

October 24, 2006	#1
Patrina_Pepperina Cross Hemisphere Dwarf Project™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New South Wales, Australia Posts: 3,094	Transplant shock Every year I have a tray or two of seedlings that just don't do well (compared to other trays) and stay runts for absolutely ages!. I figured it must be something to do with the conditions on the days of potting up, all other things being equal. Here's what they look like: http://au.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/fou...479scd.jpg&amp On Sunday I happened to catch a bit of Gardening Australia on ABC TV, and the funny ol' guy showed how to keep tomatoes warm after transplanting to guard against transplant shock. He used clear plastic tubing to protect against cold winds, and he used clear plastic on the soil around the plant to warm it up.... Bingo! I had an answer as to why I always have trays full of runts, not individual runt seedlings amongst good ones! I remembered that some of the days that I potted up seedlings weren't very warm. A couple days were when my dog dug into seedling trays, so I had no choice but to pot them up, but they were rather cold windy days/nights. The difference between the largest seedlings and the smallest seedlings in the pic below are less than 2 weeks, but the largest ones are ready for transplant and the smallest ones are still weeks away! http://au.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/fou...cd.jpg&.src=ph Lessons for me are to make sure that I choose nice days for potting up next season, water with warm water, then put straight into the mini greenhouse that I didn't get around to putting up this season, due to a late start!!~&# I could really kick myself for the disappointing start to my tomato season!!! I think I'll be dumping a couple hundred seedlings this year PP __________________ Truth is colourful, not just black and white. PP: 2005*

October 25, 2006	#2
Grub Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,722	Sorry to read this PP. I think you will rescue them. These were two of my strongest Red Brandywines. The one on the foreground is the same age as the one in the background. Sometimes they are sooo slow. And then you get a good one, like Sophie's Choice, which is strong, about to throw flowers, and low maintenance. And these dwarfs like this PL Sneezy won't take it lying down. Unlike Gulliver. And even hot peppers like this overwintered Orange Habanero will come good in the end... Other's like this Safi you might have to help along. But above we are here to have fun.

October 25, 2006	#3
Mantis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 1,241	This year sowed some super early on May 7th. They took off and really looked good, but now they are stagnant and I hope I get some fruit off them. Others sown later were not as thrifty but now are looking good. Buggered if I know , sorry. Yours are looking very healthy Grub eh

October 26, 2006	#4
Grub Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,722	You bet, Manto. They are doing well. I was surprised to find how warm the soil was during the cold snaps, when I poked my finger under the mulch during the watering test. Toasty. There are about six out of 60-odd that are slow and have the yellows, but by and large they are going well. Who would have thought Brandywine Sudduth would be the strongest of all? A cold climate tomato, IMHO. I had a bloke do some pruning here today, way up there, removing a few limbs, and he took a few others away because he wanted to put even more light on some of the tomatoes. Top bloke. He loved the set up. A lot is happening in this place at the moment through stealth. Can't say too much, but I might have gained yet another bed I mean fishfern. Yuk. All due credit to our forebears, however, for making lots of bordered garden beds in the old houses. They liked growing stuff. What I am finding, without a shadow of doubt, that the plants from saved seed that I grew last year or the year before or the year before that, seedling selections of past selections of past selections, are far and away the strongest. Cherokee Purple is go thus far (ain't it always?). But so too is Indian Stripe. Flowers on both. I have flowers on most things and on Songold they are open. In the wispy patch, Wes, German Red Strawberry, Prue, Speckled Roman, etc, all very strong. Kimberly is great again but she might get beaten as the earliest this year. Russian Red is opening. Gotta have a few of these guys as mainstay potted ones. Peppers are moving a bit, eggies are slow. Not hot enough for them yet. Cheap thrills, but I'm getting high on that heady smell of tomato foliage again. Mmmm. I'm hanging and have it baadddddddd.