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Tomatoes drooping when I take propagator lid off

FinkleGardenFinkleGarden Posts: 5
in Fruit & veg
Hi, I'm a newbie gardener and started growing some tomatoes in a propagator. This isn't heated, just a lid. I'm worried I may have left the plants in there for too long, as I now have a pretty well developed plant but whenever I take the lid off, they droop a little. Will I have to re-sow?
Many thanks!
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Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Does your lid have vents in it so you can increase the ventilation gradually before removing the lid entirely?
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FinkleGardenFinkleGarden Posts: 5
    It doesn't but I can try to prop the lid open very slightly :)
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Worth a try! I expect the drooping is a reaction to the abrupt change from high humidity inside the propagator to drier, maybe cooler air outside, possibly with draughts as well.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Maybe you sowed them a bit early and they're struggling for light.
    Are they a bit leggy?

    I sow tomatoes, peppers and chilli first week in March.
    By the time they germinate the sun will be strong enough to stop the legginess - if that's the cause with your plants

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FinkleGardenFinkleGarden Posts: 5
    They have got a bit leggy this week so maybe I was a little too keen! I will definitely make a note to start a little later next year :)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited 29 February
    Yes - very early, and they need light more than warmth at this time of year. I don't sow until mid to late March, partly for that reason, but also because it's about what happens as they grow - temps and conditions need to be suitable for them going outside or into the gr'house. I average around two months, from sowing point until that stage   :)

    You can always sow more in a couple of weeks and see how that goes  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FinkleGardenFinkleGarden Posts: 5
    I will try sowing a few more in a couple of weeks to see how I get on :) 

    Do you use a propagator or just straight into pots? Or can I sow them in the greenhouse?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I sow in pots - around 3 to a 3 inch deep pot, just on the kitchen windowsill. I put a small plastic lid on them until they start sprouting, then that's taken off. It can be hot there during March if it's sunny, so I may have to pull blinds. That's quite important too - small seedlings are easily damaged by too much heat or too much moisture.
    Once the roots are filling the pot, I pot them on individuallly. They'll still be in the house, and they get turned regularly to keep them growing well. When you pot on, the advantage of toms is that you can bury them deeper - right up to the first set of true leaves. That allows them to grow sturdily, and they also root from those buried stems.  :)
    Once they're filling the next pot, it's usually about time for them to go into the gr'house, but if conditions aren't great, I sometimes need to nip out sideshoots if they're doing well. Those can also be potted up and grown on. I mainly grow undercover as our climate isn't really ideal for toms.  Your location will dictate that  - @Pete.8  has very different conditions from mine :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FinkleGardenFinkleGarden Posts: 5
    Thank you so much, this is really insightful! I’m definitely going to give a new batch a go middle of March and see how I get on :)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If nothing else, it lets you see what will work best for your conditions @FinkleGarden.  

    It's also a good idea to make a wee note of the sowing times, how you did them, and how well it goes, so that you have that for future years   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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