Newbie with a GROWING question :-)

jtharper76 · April 6, 2009

So I started my seeds from 6 different varieties all at the same time in the same medium with all plants (once sprouted) getting the same amount of warm Louisiana sun. Here is the question that probably has an easy answer.

How in the world do some of the tomato plant varieties produce wonderful sturdy plants and others little leggy things that I am worried will not do as well in my garden, when these plants all recieved the exact same care.

EXAMPLE:

Black Zebra - Started 6 seeds, 4 germinated, and are unbelieveable stocky plants that are ready for the garden

Florida Pink - Exact same results as BZ

Brandywine - Started 6 seeds, 4 germinated, but all 4 are spindly long leggy plants that are really worrying me as it is time to transplant to my garden.

Last question:

Is there a way to help the leggy plants to study up for planting?

Thanks tomatoville

Worth1 · April 6, 2009

Some plants just do that.
Your shorter determinants will be real stocky, Oregon Spring is one.
Lime green salad is another.
You should see how leggy wild cherry is compared to others,
just plain sick looking.
But you better give them room later.

In time if you are planting seeds and get to know the plants. You can sort out the seeds as to their growth habits in the seed starting trays so they don't crowd out each other.

Worth

jtharper76 · April 6, 2009

So Worth are you saying these things I am calling Leggy will be ok in the garden?

Worth1 · April 6, 2009

They should be but I cant see them for myself.
The stores sell some pretty sorry looking plants and they seem to do ok.

Worth

jtharper76 · April 6, 2009

but see, what is crazy to me is Black Zebra and Louisiana Pink are both indeterminate and BZ thrives while LP is just kind of spindly. This is a crazy Hobby!

**Mischka** · April 6, 2009

Bury the leggy ones deep (almost up to the leaves) and the stem of those plants will establish a sturdy root system.

huntoften · April 6, 2009

No matter how leggy or stocky they are, I always pinch off all but the upper most leaves and bury them as deeeeeeeeep as I can. All that leggy will turn into roots. If they are too leggy and you're not ready to put them in the garden...pot them up to a larger pot and bury them deep.

jtharper76 · April 7, 2009

Great ideas thanks.

Any of you have experience growing Black and Green Zebra? How is the taste of these two?

WVTomatoMan · April 9, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtharper76

Great ideas thanks.

Any of you have experience growing Black and Green Zebra? How is the taste of these two?

With regards to Green Zebra, don't ask.

There are exceptions, but for the most part it is a love/hate tomato. Either you love it or you hate it.

I bring tomatoes in for tasting. One of the tasters will tell you that Green Zebra is without a doubt the worst tasting tomato on plant earth. But, you wouldn't want to ask him because you'll get a ten minute lecture on how awful it is. One of the other tasters loves it, and I grow out plants for him every year.

How about if you report back what you think?

Randy

Dewayne mater · April 9, 2009

I'm not sure when you started your seedlings nor what your climate is in Ponchatoula La. However, in DFW, it is too late to start seeds IMO, and in a few other folks opinion in T'ville who know WAY more than me. If you have access to them, I'd consider getting the largest transplants you can find and get them in the ground ASAP. Once the hot, humid weather gets here, the toms will NOT set any more fruit, unless you can nurse them through to late September when the heat starts to break. For me, I wish I'd started my seeds a week earlier than I did, and that was in mid January. I'm certain seeds will grow faster in this warmer weather, but, timing is everything in getting productivity from tomatoes in N.TX. If your lucky enough to have summer days that stay around 90 and nights that cool off below 70, you can disregard all this. For me, when those temps are regularly exceeded which is mid May usually, very little to no new fruit will set. Good luck, and sorry if this is raining on your parade, which it isn't meant to.

April 6, 2009	#1
jtharper76 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ponchatoula , Louisiana Posts: 99	Newbie with a GROWING question :-) So I started my seeds from 6 different varieties all at the same time in the same medium with all plants (once sprouted) getting the same amount of warm Louisiana sun. Here is the question that probably has an easy answer. How in the world do some of the tomato plant varieties produce wonderful sturdy plants and others little leggy things that I am worried will not do as well in my garden, when these plants all recieved the exact same care. EXAMPLE: Black Zebra - Started 6 seeds, 4 germinated, and are unbelieveable stocky plants that are ready for the garden Florida Pink - Exact same results as BZ Brandywine - Started 6 seeds, 4 germinated, but all 4 are spindly long leggy plants that are really worrying me as it is time to transplant to my garden. Last question: Is there a way to help the leggy plants to study up for planting? Thanks tomatoville

April 6, 2009	#3
jtharper76 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ponchatoula , Louisiana Posts: 99	so.... So Worth are you saying these things I am calling Leggy will be ok in the garden?

April 6, 2009	#6
Mischka Tomatoville® Administrator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Bay State Posts: 3,207	Bury the leggy ones deep (almost up to the leaves) and the stem of those plants will establish a sturdy root system. __________________ Mischka One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

April 6, 2009	#7
huntoften Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas CIty Posts: 560	No matter how leggy or stocky they are, I always pinch off all but the upper most leaves and bury them as deeeeeeeeep as I can. All that leggy will turn into roots. If they are too leggy and you're not ready to put them in the garden...pot them up to a larger pot and bury them deep. __________________ Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a

April 6, 2009	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Some plants just do that. Your shorter determinants will be real stocky, Oregon Spring is one. Lime green salad is another. You should see how leggy wild cherry is compared to others, just plain sick looking. But you better give them room later. In time if you are planting seeds and get to know the plants. You can sort out the seeds as to their growth habits in the seed starting trays so they don't crowd out each other. Worth

April 7, 2009	#8
jtharper76 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ponchatoula , Louisiana Posts: 99	Great ideas thanks. Any of you have experience growing Black and Green Zebra? How is the taste of these two?

April 9, 2009	#10
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	I'm not sure when you started your seedlings nor what your climate is in Ponchatoula La. However, in DFW, it is too late to start seeds IMO, and in a few other folks opinion in T'ville who know WAY more than me. If you have access to them, I'd consider getting the largest transplants you can find and get them in the ground ASAP. Once the hot, humid weather gets here, the toms will NOT set any more fruit, unless you can nurse them through to late September when the heat starts to break. For me, I wish I'd started my seeds a week earlier than I did, and that was in mid January. I'm certain seeds will grow faster in this warmer weather, but, timing is everything in getting productivity from tomatoes in N.TX. If your lucky enough to have summer days that stay around 90 and nights that cool off below 70, you can disregard all this. For me, when those temps are regularly exceeded which is mid May usually, very little to no new fruit will set. Good luck, and sorry if this is raining on your parade, which it isn't meant to.