True North Tomatoes

[bower]

They're looking great (nice big pots too!). Glad you're into the bud mania. Just goes to show, some are to be a bit earlier than others...

[SharonRossy]

Karen, you are awesome!

[efisakov]

Karen, are all your "children" PL?

[KarenO]

Yes, they are all pl

[efisakov]

mmmmm!!!!!

[KarenO]

40 days from seeding. Looking happy in the greenhouse. For those who wish to know they are in 6" biodegradable rice pots in miracle grow moisture control potting mix. I know some don't like it but I do. They require water about every second day, not on a schedule but based on how they look and how hot it is. as they grow they need more. I don't believe in stressing seedlings by letting them get very dry. They do not require supplementary fert at this point, the mix is giving them what they need as can be seen. I watch them and if they start to look a little pale, I will give them some soluble. My approach is is mix of commercial mix and fert for seedlings chosen because my experience has proven these to be completely reliable for me and my methods and then once planted in the garden or big pots I only use organic compost and fertilizer. Big vigorous possibly blooming seedlings is what I need here in my short season and it makes up a lot of time allowing me to be successful with mid to late midseason varieties here.
KarenO

[ginger2778]

Karen, what you are doing is obviously the right thing. Happy, perfect, strong seedlings. Look at those healthy little bit droopy leaves, just like Heshpole. Lots to be proud of. Nice!

[Labradors2]

Beautiful healthy seedlings Karen! I wish mine looked as good!

Linda

[efisakov]

Karen, how do you prevent them from blooming to early? Some of my started to. I grew few for the March planting in the small greenhouse. The weather was to cold, we had to push planting time to April. Seedlings became to big, some started blooming.

[NarnianGarden]

Lovely!! Look at those potatoe leaves...

[KarenO]

Originally Posted by efisakov

Karen, how do you prevent them from blooming to early? Some of my started to. I grew few for the March planting in the small greenhouse. The weather was to cold, we had to push planting time to April. Seedlings became to big, some started blooming.

If they bloom, it's because they are ready to, not because they are stressed. I want big blooming seedlings, goes against common wisdom, I know but it is my way and it works for me. My philosophy is that a healthy plant will do what it wants to and I will let it. Having a greenhouse helps a great deal to give them the warmth and good light they need as opposed to lights in the house so that's a big plus.

I intend to minimise pruning, other interference and just provide as optimal conditions as I can and let them do their thing. This way, I can see their true habit and select for the characteristics I want. A few are budding out and that early blooming trait is something I want and so the first bloomers will be marked and that is a point in their favour as I am trying to grow large tomatoes that are early enough to produce well in a Northern garden. It has been my experience that it is OK to grow seedlings quite large , even blooming or with a few fruit set as long as you have room and also that you harden them off properly and wait until it is reliably warm to plant them in their final location.

KarenO

[RobinB]

Lovely! I've been following your FB postings, but I'll be following this thread too. We're fairly short season here in Northern Nevada too, with 110 frost-free days per year. I'll be looking forward to your results!

Robin

[KarenO]

The first to bloom at 48 days from seed. This particularly tall and droopy leaved Midnight sun F3.

[bower]

NOW I'm really excited!

[RobinB]

WOW! That's incredible Karen! I can't wait to see how it turns out!