Are my tomato seedlings leggy? (and other tomato seedling advice)
January Man
Posts: 212
Good morning gardeners 
I'm growing tomato from seed this year for the first time, having always bought plants before... I don't have a greenhouse, cold frame, propagator, etc. Nothing in fact other than a few south facing windowsills.
Being new to all of this I wondered if anyone would mind taking a look at my photos to see whether my plants look leggy?
Also, I have been reading up on growing from seed and looking after seedlings which has led to a few other questions...
- Is it correct that the seedlings do not like to be in too warm a position? One thing I read said that 10C - 12C was about right, but it seemed so low to me!
- If that kind of temp is best, would they be better off outdoors on sunny days like today?
- Another technique I read about for windowsill growing is put tin foil behind the plants to reflect light. Anyone doing this or similar? Would be very interested to hear what techniques people use.
- When should I be thinking about potting them up?
- And finally (gasp!), I have read that when potting up it is good practise to bury more of the stem as this will encourage more and better rooting. But what is the ideal height to bury the stems to?
There's some pics below.
Many thanks as ever
Max
Last edited: 23 April 2017 11:14:50
Posts
Those look fine Max. I have used silver foil on the inside of a cardboard box with one side removed to help scatter light - this does help to prevent them becoming leggy and leaning towards the light. Best temps to grow them at are 14 to 20C at this stage. I would leave them another week before repotting as they are a bit delicate at the moment. When you re-pot, bury them right up to the seed leaves (the first two leaves which appeared when they germinated.) Put them into small pots (eg 9cm) first and then repot those into slightly larger ones (eg 12cm) when the roots reach the sides of the small pots.
Thanks Bob - that's really helpful and much appreciated.
By the time they fill that bigger pot - you should be closer to getting them out in their final position too - into a bigger pot again , or in the ground if it's suitable. Don't feed until the first truss of fruits is setting too. It's not necessary.
They look absolutely fine - you have a nice little batch there!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks Fairygirl. I must admit, I do prefer the idea of potting on only once from here and then onto their final position, rather than potting on twice before the final position. Is that what you were saying or did I misread?
As for their final position, I'm trying them on the ground this year for the first time ever - having used pots always in the past. I'm excited to see how they do
It depends how quickly they grow really, and the outside conditions. As Bob said - whenyou pot those on, they'll really need another shift up in size to get them big enough to go out. By that time, the weather should be ok. Sometimes it's down to timing and your own conditions. I can't grow them outside anyway up here, so it's less relevant, but a bigger, stronger plant will have a better chance outdoors inthe elements
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hi
My tom plants have come on a fair amount these last few days so I've started transplanting into 9cm pots. There are no roots around the edges of the plug trays, so when I get the plant out a fair amount of the compost falls away. When I've done this in the past for other types of plants (and when I watch on youtube), plants are half way toward pot bound and so everything comes out of each plug tray in one nice and "together" clump. Not so today....
Is that normal or am I doing it too early?
Also, any tips on the best way to get the plants out of trays? I'm using a teaspoon at the moment, but I'm not getting all the soil out and perhaps not all of the roots either. And - like I say above - some of what I do get out crumbles away.
Everything is set up and I'm raring to go, but I'm not sure if I should curb my enthusiasm and wait, or continue as I am.
Many thanks
Max
Leave them a bit if the first one you pop out doesn't have reasonable signs of roots around the edges. Cut off a few bottom leaves and plant them deeper when you repot, they grow roots out of the stem. When you plant them out, trench them.
Last edited: 28 April 2017 18:33:03
Yup - too early if they're not filling the pot well enough with roots. I know you're keen to get them going, but you risk damage if you try to shift them when they aren't ready. They'll come on quite quickly now that the weather is warming up a bit more.
Patience Max....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hi all
Well, first - a wrist slap please! After posting the above, I went downstairs and continued the potting up. I only checked for replies after having done them all. Lesson learnt for next time, but on the plus side they seem to be doing ok. Perhaps a lucky escape?!
Anyhow, I potted on to 9cm pots and am wondering at what stage they need to go up a size? There are some pics below. I'm happy to be patient this time and wait until the correct time
On another note, they are still sat on south facing windowsills... It's warm and sunny today outdoors (Norfolk); the forecast says 10C at the moment, reaching 12C as the day goes on. Having just taken the dogs out, I can say it feels a lot warmer in the sun. So should I be putting them outdoors on a day like this? I'm not thinking hardening off so much as putting them where it is warm and lighter than indoors. Or are there other reasons why young plants grown (and living) indoors should not go outside on a day like this?
Huge thanks for the super help
Max
If it feels pleasant outside to you Max, then your toms will be fine outdoors. They don't like temps below 13c, so bring them in before nightfall. The breeze will help strengthen the stems.
They look fine and I'm sure will be dripping with fruit in a few months time.
If you tap one out of the pot you can check the rootball. If it's really busy down there, pot them into 8" pots.
If you have seaweed extract that'll give them a boost and strengthen them up, but no fertilizer yet
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.