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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March 29, 2017 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: The Delta
Posts: 2
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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'm going to plant them this week weather permitting with just the top 3" above ground. |
June 23, 2017 | #2 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: S.C.
Posts: 27
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Quote:
I am by NO means an expert. However I started Tomatoes from seed this year as well...my first time. I made two attempts. The first time I started Tomatoes and Bell Peppers together. The Tomatoes grew but were VERY Leggy and were useless. The peppers did okay. My original setup used 3 CFL Bulbs at 23 Watts and 1600 Lumens each. On my second attempt I tripled my light source and made certain the color spectrum duplicated natural sunlight. The modified setup used 3 CFL lamps at 65 Watts and 4000 Lumens each, the light spectrum is 6500K.( I suspect I could have gotten away with using two of the 65 Watt 4000 Lumen CFLs.)The results were great. The second set of Tomatoes had thick stems and were very hardy. Additionally they were easy to harden off....almost no sun shock Using my experience as a guide...I would say your light source was too weak. My 2 cents. Frank |
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June 24, 2017 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MA/NH Border
Posts: 4,919
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If you had 36 plants and only one 2ft light, then lack of light was definitely the issue. There needs to be light directly over every seedling, or the ones that aren't under the light will be stretching towards that single bulb. Everything else sounds perfect, so if you can resolve the lighting issue for next year, you should have much better results.
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