Kweegly, one seedling per pot. Start by transplanting the seedling when it has two real leaves, into a 3 inch pot. When the roots fill that pot, pot on into larger pot .
I planted tomato seeds in a plastic container the best part of a month ago, and nothing has sprouted yet. Have they failed, or should I wait longer?
I used an old plastic tray with 8 small compartments about 2" deep and 2" by 1½".
I filled them with multi-purpose compost, sprinkled a bit of blood fish & bone into it and then prodded two seeds into each compartment about half an inch down.
The weather was below 10 degrees C when I did this, but things quickly warmed up and I've been leaving the container out in the sun during the day and taking it in at night.
I did keep them damp, perhaps too damp, but they've been reasonably dry for the last couple of weeks. There was drainage, and only once did any water leak out of them after I watered them.
Since it's been the best part of a month and nothing's burst to the surface, I'll start again, though I'm disappointed that I'm losing all this warm and sunny weather!
How long does it usually take for a shoot to appear after you plant seeds?
Tomsk, it's usual for tom seeds to take between a couple of days and a week to germinate. Older, stubborn seeds can take a bit longer.
The fertiliser didn't help, and you planted a bit too deeply. The seeds need only be barely covered. I suspect the seeds might have rotted. The mix needs to be slightly damp at best.
Optimum temps for germination are in the 20sC, with, ideally, the warmth coming from underneath.
Last night, after reading the replies, I had one more very close look at my container and there was no sign of any shoots. So I got an old 2" deep plastic tray (old, cleaned meat packaging), filled it with compost and planted 15 new seeds, just below the surface and didn't water this time.
I was going to throw the compost in the old container into the compost bin, but it was late and dark, so left it for the morning. This afternoon I went out to do it, and there's a tiny tomato shoot! It's slightly open, a bit like Emu's mouth (as in Rod Hull) and one centimetre tall. That appeared from nowhere in a matter of hours.
So, if the rest shortly appear, it looks like I'm going to have a surplus of tomato plants.
Since this afternoon, a second one of the seemingly-dead shoots has popped above the soil. The leaves aren't out yet, but there's a small 'loop' of stem popping up, so I assume the leaves will appear by tomorrow (the sun's going down now).
They must be following this thread, and got spooked by my posts last night.
Well, there you go. The very first couple of leaves you'll see aren't true leaves, they're cotyledons. They supply nourishment to the seedling. The true leaves will come along within a week or so. For now, give them as much light as possible.
The newly-sown seeds will need some moisture, just not too much. The mix should be damp at most.
Hi, I was looking for some advice in my tomatoes and came across this thread so hope you don't mind me posting a question.
I have had very limited success with tomato growing in the past and I think my seedlings are now ready for potting on. I have attached a picture, ease could someone tell me. I'm never sure what is meant by '2 true leaves' but am assuming they are the leaves after the initial germination leaves (I can't think of a better way of putting it!
Also, if I pot them on now, are they ok in the unheated GH, it hasn't dropped below 7c for the last few nights?
Posts
Kweegly, one seedling per pot. Start by transplanting the seedling when it has two real leaves, into a 3 inch pot. When the roots fill that pot, pot on into larger pot .
Thanks, for a fully grown plant how large a pot should I use?
I planted tomato seeds in a plastic container the best part of a month ago, and nothing has sprouted yet. Have they failed, or should I wait longer?
I used an old plastic tray with 8 small compartments about 2" deep and 2" by 1½".
I filled them with multi-purpose compost, sprinkled a bit of blood fish & bone into it and then prodded two seeds into each compartment about half an inch down.
The weather was below 10 degrees C when I did this, but things quickly warmed up and I've been leaving the container out in the sun during the day and taking it in at night.
How wet are they Tomsk? Over-watering is v common....do the pots have drainage holes? Or maybe they're too dry!
BFB was unnecessary at this stage (esp with multi-porpoise rather than seed comppst) but probably won't hurt.
If nothing's happened after a month I'd sow another lot just in case. Seed's cheap. (and birdseed's cheep?)
I did keep them damp, perhaps too damp, but they've been reasonably dry for the last couple of weeks. There was drainage, and only once did any water leak out of them after I watered them.
Since it's been the best part of a month and nothing's burst to the surface, I'll start again, though I'm disappointed that I'm losing all this warm and sunny weather!
How long does it usually take for a shoot to appear after you plant seeds?
Tomsk, it's usual for tom seeds to take between a couple of days and a week to germinate. Older, stubborn seeds can take a bit longer.
The fertiliser didn't help, and you planted a bit too deeply. The seeds need only be barely covered. I suspect the seeds might have rotted. The mix needs to be slightly damp at best.
Optimum temps for germination are in the 20sC, with, ideally, the warmth coming from underneath.
Well here's a thing.
Last night, after reading the replies, I had one more very close look at my container and there was no sign of any shoots. So I got an old 2" deep plastic tray (old, cleaned meat packaging), filled it with compost and planted 15 new seeds, just below the surface and didn't water this time.
I was going to throw the compost in the old container into the compost bin, but it was late and dark, so left it for the morning. This afternoon I went out to do it, and there's a tiny tomato shoot! It's slightly open, a bit like Emu's mouth (as in Rod Hull) and one centimetre tall. That appeared from nowhere in a matter of hours.
So, if the rest shortly appear, it looks like I'm going to have a surplus of tomato plants.
Since this afternoon, a second one of the seemingly-dead shoots has popped above the soil. The leaves aren't out yet, but there's a small 'loop' of stem popping up, so I assume the leaves will appear by tomorrow (the sun's going down now).
They must be following this thread, and got spooked by my posts last night.
Well, there you go. The very first couple of leaves you'll see aren't true leaves, they're cotyledons. They supply nourishment to the seedling. The true leaves will come along within a week or so. For now, give them as much light as possible.
The newly-sown seeds will need some moisture, just not too much. The mix should be damp at most.
Hi, I was looking for some advice in my tomatoes and came across this thread so hope you don't mind me posting a question.
I have had very limited success with tomato growing in the past and I think my seedlings are now ready for potting on. I have attached a picture, ease could someone tell me. I'm never sure what is meant by '2 true leaves' but am assuming they are the leaves after the initial germination leaves (I can't think of a better way of putting it!
Also, if I pot them on now, are they ok in the unheated GH, it hasn't dropped below 7c for the last few nights?