Young tomato plants

tstaples · May 2023

Hi all

I decided to try growing tomato plants from seed. I have young plants that I have left outside during the day and brought back in at night for the past week but the leaves don’t look right. They are different shades of green.

Any advice?

Fairygirl · May 2023

Hi @tstaples - they're quite small, but they look like they're needing potted on now. The colour change is probably due to a lack of nutrients in whatever they're growing in just now, but it's quite hard to see in the photo. When you pot them on, bury them a bit deeper, and they'll produce more roots higher on the stems, which helps to keep them stable, and means they have more access to soil/moisture etc. too

It's also very common for foliage to change colour if the temps aren't right, but that's usually when it's too cold. I'd not be putting out such young plants though - wait until they're a bit bigger and sturdier ,and they'll be happier.

tstaples · May 2023

Here are some more photos if that helps

Fairygirl · May 2023

If they're filling those pots, they'd benefit from potting on into something bigger

I had to start again with my toms this year, as the compost was dreadful, so they're smaller than they would usually be for the time of year. I've only just got them in the growhouse, and one or two are still in the house, as they're only about that size.
Where you're located will dictate whether they go outside too, and when. Many parts of the country aren't suitable for reliably growing outside.
I've always grown them undercover, but in the last couple of years I've had a couple outside too, as the summers have been hotter and drier than we normally get. Colder, wetter conditions aren't favourable for them

tstaples · May 2023

Thanks so you would advise putting them into bigger pots and bringing them in the evenings when the temperature drops?

Fairygirl · May 2023

Check to see if the roots are filling the pots they're in, and if so, you can move into bigger ones.
However, I wouldn't put them outdoors just now - give them a bit more time inside, but watch for too sunny a windowsill, as the foliage can fry easily. Keeping a steady temperature, especially overnight, helps to keep them growing happily.
Warm enough during the bulk of the day - ie around 16, 17 up to around low to mid 20s is fine [some variation on that is ok] and double figs overnight, and they should grow a bit more rapidly in the next couple of weeks

tstaples · May 2023

Thanks I am going to plant them into their final pots, put them out during the day and monitor the amount of sun they get. Will bring them in of an evening.

I did just remove one of the fibre pots from one of them and it was quite mouldy inside so I assume this would rot the roots

Lyn · May 2023

Pot them up in a pot just a bit bigger than what they’re in and throw away the fibre pots.
I don’t think they’re big enough for their final pots yet.

philippasmith2 · May 2023

As per @Fairygirl and @Lyn your plants look a bit too small to be in their final containers.
It's a bit of a faff but it's always best to pot on regularly into something a wee bit bigger than to suddenly go from small to final.
They look sturdy little plants and as the weather warms up, they should do well

Young tomato plants

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