How do these look?

[biodarwin]

First time growing from seed. These will be my fall tomatoes. One row was transplanted a week or so before the other. I have Roma VF, Sungold, Tumbler and Sweet tangerine.

[jmsieglaff]

They look happy and healthy! Good luck with your fall garden.

[KarenO]

good looking seedlings there. My fall garden is usually snow before Halloween
Enjoy
KarenO

[biodarwin]

Thank you! I have had these guys under a T-5 light and they looked fine. Since this was my first time I thought I would double check. Thank you once again!

[Father'sDaughter]

The seedlings look great. If you're watering from the top, have you considered switching over to bottom watering? It will provide for more even and deeper moisture as the root systems develop, and could help avoid dampening off issues. Just pour water directly into the trays and let it soak up from below.

[biodarwin]

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

The seedlings look great. If you're watering from the top, have you considered switching over to bottom watering? It will provide for more even and deeper moisture as the root systems develop, and could help avoid dampening off issues. Just pour water directly into the trays and let it soak up from below.

This makes so much sense, given that I grow my tomatoes in global buckets. How much water should I add to the trays? Just try to keep in a constant 1" of water in the bottom?

[KarenO]

Oh no, water them based on need in your peat pots. She means when you need to water them, you can water from the bottom. Your peat pots would disintegrate if kept in water and the roots would rot from being too wet. The goal is moist, not wet. Think of a nice fresh piece of chocolate cake. It is moist but if you squeezed it no moisture would drip out. That is how your seedling mix should be.
Karen

[Father'sDaughter]

Thanks for clarifying Karen! Yes, just enough water to get things evenly moist, but not so much that the pots are in standing water. I just see so much dry soil in your pots right now which isn't good when you're trying to grow a large health root system.

[biodarwin]

Ok, so maybe add an inch of water, let it wick up and when the soil seems sufficient damp, poor the excess out the bottom?

[Father'sDaughter]

That's pretty much it. If they soak up the inch of water an still look and feel dry, add more and wait to see how much they take up. I keep an empty tray on hand to transfer them into after they've sucked up all they need, then dump the water out. And by giving them a good drink from the bottom, you can wait until the top of your soil dries out a bit before you water again.

[peppero]

There is a lot of pleasure in growing from seed. Enjoy.

jon

[biodarwin]

Thanks everyone. This has been working great and has in general reduced the amount of time required to deal with these little guys. Thanks!!!