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: ca
Posts: 34
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I have a heat mat & a 7 inch dome for starting my seeds. I bought a humidity gauge to monitor the level inside the dome. Can anyone tell me what % I should try to keep it at?
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2013
Location: glendora ca
Posts: 2,560
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I would worry more about your soils temperature. As soon as the seeds sprout you are going to vent/remove the dome anyway so humidity wont matter. You want the media you are sprouting seeds in nice and moist not overly wet. Good luck!
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“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." |
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: ca
Posts: 34
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Thanks for the quick reply. I was planning on leaving the dome on until the plants got 5 inches tall. That's why I wanted to know what I should try & keep the humidity level at.
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7
Posts: 3,207
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I vent the lid until germination,then take off. I've had trouble with damping off when I left it on for even one extra day.
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: ca
Posts: 34
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This is my first time using a heat mat & dome. From the pictures of this unit they show 6 inch plants growing under the dome. It sounds like that won't be possible. I am trying to keep the dome on longer so I can use the misters I mounted above to keep them wet.
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#6 | |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a
Posts: 21,169
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I googled some info but lost it in the transfer. One of my tomato pathology books, not near me right now, showed pictures where seedlings could be up to 5 inches tall before going down, that surprised me, so damping off just isn't seen when the seeds germinate and are very small. Hope that helps, Carolyn
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Carolyn |
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#7 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2013
Location: glendora ca
Posts: 2,560
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__________________
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." |
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: ca
Posts: 34
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Yes I am top watering. I will take a pic & post it. I am a newbie at this & don't know anyway other way to keep the soil moist.
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#9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2013
Location: glendora ca
Posts: 2,560
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Just pour water in the tray and let your media soak it up. Top watering is a big tomato no no
__________________
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." |
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#10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: ca
Posts: 34
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Is it okay to top water until the seeds pop up?
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#11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2013
Location: glendora ca
Posts: 2,560
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Yes but of you have a humidity dome you usually wont need to water more than once maybe twice. You dont want your growing media soggy.
__________________
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." |
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#12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: ca
Posts: 34
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Would a fan on the seedlings & top water with misters allow me to leave them in the dome longer?
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#13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2013
Location: glendora ca
Posts: 2,560
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I would not leave them in the dome at all after they sprout. Humidity is not a tomatoes friend. Why do you want to leave them inside the dome? How does your setup top water with misters inside a 7 inch dome?
__________________
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." |
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#14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: ca
Posts: 34
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I was hoping to keep them in the dome so I can control the temp & keep them watered. I am trying to automate the process. I ran a drip line through the top of the dome & attached two misters. I have the water & light on a timer.
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#15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7
Posts: 4,916
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The purpose of dome is just to prevent the soil from drying out fast. So if you can keep the soil moist by other means (such as misting ..) you don't need a dome. Stagnant humid air is a haven for mo;d growth.
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