New to growing your own tomatoes? This is the forum to learn the successful techniques used by seasoned tomato growers. Questions are welcome, too.
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
February 1, 2017 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Illinois
Posts: 11
|
First timer pics
Hello, this is the first time starting from seed and have questions. Does this plant look leggy? This seed was planted 3 and a half weeks ago. Any suggestions? Tried just a couple seeds to test my setup. Going to do a big batch of seeds at first of march. Im 10 minutes from st louis, does march sound good? Thanks Mid
[ATTACH]20170201_201244[184].jpg[/ATTACH] |
February 1, 2017 | #2 |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
|
It's a little bit leggy at most. Position your lights just above the plant and adjust as needed. I'll try to get a picture showing this. Tomatoes and peppers
|
February 1, 2017 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 5,931
|
Looks fine. Roberts advice re light positioning is good. Once ready to transplant bury the stem right up to the first true leaves.
Off to a good start so far. Best wishes, starting seeds yourself is very rewarding KarenO |
February 2, 2017 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2014
Location: illinois
Posts: 281
|
Mid, I'm a couple hours north of you. St. Louis is 8-10 days ahead of me weather wise. My kids live there and plant out for tomatoes is safe late April, early May.
A March 1 start would work and peppers a couple weeks earlier. Allow a good week plus to harden off. You can take cuttings from the plants you've already started. This will slow things down and you can control their growth so they will not be too big at plant out. Your summer comes on so fast that young transplants take off quickly. I would shoot for an 8 week old plant that has been hardened off well. |
February 2, 2017 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: NewYork 5a
Posts: 2,303
|
Really smart to do a trial run. Testing your set-up, soil, and method.
Seed is cheap. Disappointing if something goes wrong so starting a bit early avoids that. Having a few extra plants is good insurance. Many of us start seeds in smaller cell containers then move up to cups where they live until planting in the garden. That way, as mentioned, they can be planted very deep in your cups. Growing more roots all along the stems for a stronger plant. Close to your light set-up will strengthen them. But if you are growing indeterminate they just want to go up. Keeping your growing area cool will slow them down a bit. I'm growing some dwarfs and micros and they, by nature, are much more short and squat during their youth. |
February 2, 2017 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Illinois
Posts: 11
|
thanks all.,Keep suggestions coming.
|
|
|