Temperature fluctuation has probably been a big part of the problem then. Too hot during the day and dropping too much at night. I've just seen that you're watering from the bottom, which isn't the best idea. Tomatoes actually do better if allowed to dry out a little before watering again, but if you're watering from the base, the bottom end of the roots are possibly too wet. Just water at the base of the plants - the soil surface. A consistent watering regime is also best, as it avoids problems later. Also - a mix of coir and perlite won't have much nutrition. They'd be better just in compost. What size are they, and what size of pot? It's actually quite hard to tell from the photos.
Yes I’d agree about the temperatures, it’s been very hot in Scotland for well over a week so the day time temperatures in comparison to the night time is quite different, even with heating, its not completely consistent. I usually water seedlings in those cell trays from the bottom to avoid damping off, I don’t know why I continued on after I repotted them as I think they were beyond the stage of that happening so that was a rookie mistake! I also didn’t realise only the bottom of the pot was getting most of the moisture and I had buried the stems to get a better root system/stronger stem, that isn’t going to happen unless I provide moisture at the top half of the pot, I think the surprise heat wave has gone to my head this year! every other year has been fine aswell.
The soil is mostly compost, I only mix in a little coir and perlite so the bulk is the multi purpose compost. I’m just wondering if the nutrients have maybe been washed out at this point? after googling it does seem to resemble some sort of magnesium/nitrogen deficiency, I’ve never encountered this before as it’s new/fresh compost. I don’t know if the excessive heat during the day and the not so great watering has maybe caused some of it? I’m guessing if they haven’t been getting adequate water then that will have hindered them.
They are in pots that are about a litre size and they are about 6-8 inches maybe, I’d have to measure them to be accurate, thy aren’t pot bound, some of them were just repotted on Friday there, the others have still to be repotted, I’m using Jacks Magic multi purpose.
I've only just sown tomato seeds a couple of weeks ago. I think you'd be better sowing later in future. They need a lot of protection up here, even if they're going in a greenhouse, but the unusual temps have created a false impression of the weather . It's still very cold at night where I am - there's been several frosts this week, and last night was only about four. It's a big drop from the daytime temp, even with good g'house ventilation.
I have mine in the house until they're big enough to go in the greenhouse, which will be about another month at least. By that time they'll be a good enough size to pot on, and the temps will be more steady.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I've only just sown tomato seeds a couple of weeks ago. I think you'd be better sowing later in future. They need a lot of protection up here, even if they're going in a greenhouse, but the unusual temps have created a false impression of the weather . It's still very cold at night where I am - there's been several frosts this week, and last night was only about four. It's a big drop from the daytime temp, even with good g'house ventilation.
I have mine in the house until they're big enough to go in the greenhouse, which will be about another month at least. By that time they'll be a good enough size to pot on, and the temps will be more steady.
I did have them at home under a grow light but they got too big.
Do you think adding fleece over them at night would help or not so much?
Think they are looking worse today 😣 don’t know if I should just give up and throw them? don’t know what to do. Noticed some of them have that light brown/white on the edges of the leaves too.
The new growth looks good and the plants look quite healthy. You may want to check they're not getting root bound. Considering the difficulty you have in keeping the temps right for them I think they're looking good and there's nothing particularly wrong with them at the moment. You could leave them outside during warm weather - the breeze will also help toughen the stems. Mine are in the greenhouse, but I gently drape some fleece over them in the evening - it helps a bit.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I had the same problem. At night, they were at a fairly low temperature,
and during the day the sun burned them. Therefore, they have turned yellow so
Can’t see photo, are they saveable? wasn’t sure if you’re meaning this years tomato plants or previous years it happened, let me know how it turns out if it’s happened to you in previous years? I hope they will be ok.
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They need a lot of protection up here, even if they're going in a greenhouse, but the unusual temps have created a false impression of the weather . It's still very cold at night where I am - there's been several frosts this week, and last night was only about four. It's a big drop from the daytime temp, even with good g'house ventilation.
I have mine in the house until they're big enough to go in the greenhouse, which will be about another month at least. By that time they'll be a good enough size to pot on, and the temps will be more steady.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Do you think adding fleece over them at night would help or not so much?
You may want to check they're not getting root bound.
Considering the difficulty you have in keeping the temps right for them I think they're looking good and there's nothing particularly wrong with them at the moment.
You could leave them outside during warm weather - the breeze will also help toughen the stems.
Mine are in the greenhouse, but I gently drape some fleece over them in the evening - it helps a bit.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.