Starting Tomatoes from seed

[farmerlor]

OK so even tho they are leggy I can just plan on staking them from the get go and they might be ok!?!

You need to bury them pretty deep or trench them but yeah, a couple of weeks outside with some good support and you'll be fine.

 

[farmerlor]

. . . You're giving them too much fertilizer if you start them out in miracle gro and they grow too fast and get leggy that way. . . .

Miraclegro makes a seed starting mix.

I haven't used it but you are saying that you don't like it, right?

Steve

Oh no, my bad. I saw the dreaded words Miracle Gro and just assumed that she meant the potting soil. I can't imagine that their seed starter would be BAD per se, but I've never used the stuff so can't say.

 

[sparkles2307]

I did not use seed starter...we live in this crappy little rural area with one kind of everything at the store, no variety or choices, so we take waht we can get. I will bury them deeply and stake them and hope that my amazing tomato varieties will produce for me! Thanks, I was going to throw them away!!!

 

[farmerlor]

I did not use seed starter...we live in this crappy little rural area with one kind of everything at the store, no variety or choices, so we take waht we can get. I will bury them deeply and stake them and hope that my amazing tomato varieties will produce for me! Thanks, I was going to throw them away!!!

Oh no, don't ever throw them away!!! I have a Celebrity tomato that the kids broke as they brought it out to me. I planted that baby anyway. She'll be late but I know she has a great (GREAT) root system so she'll send up a new start and we'll still get Celeb tomatoes this fall.

 

[sparkles2307]

LOL ok I wont toss the babies. You all have helped me so much, I was so upset and disillusioned with the whole seed thing. I got Ox Heart and striped romas and am really looking forward to them!

 

[headred]

Looks like you have had lots of advice but I'll throw in my 2 cents!

I tried for years to start tomatoes and ALWAYS failed, spindly plants, all that. This year I broke down and bought a flourescent light. Just got a cheap hanging lamp and bought a plant tube, about $10 in all. Also used miracle grow potting soil. WELL, I think those things made all the difference as I really have nice tomato plants now. So many made it that I've been giving lots away to my neighbors and co-workers.

 

[NurseNettie]

Yup. Remember, you can plant them deep-- as deep as just below the first "real" leaves-- if you can't dig that deep, then you can almost like them sideways, then up-- kind of like an L shape to plant. They'll grow roots on the long stalk.

OK so even tho they are leggy I can just plan on staking them from the get go and they might be ok!?!

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Hi there!

I would would water them with a solution of water & Epson Salts ( buy from pharmacy). I always try this first when I see yellowing leaves & it works most of the time. Give them this treatment every day until they start getting greener.

Hope this helps.


:rose Hattie :rose

 

[aidenbaby]

I've heard that on store bought plants to plant them just above the first true leaves. Something about creating a better root system or something.

 

[sparkles2307]

Hi there!

I would would water them with a solution of water & Epson Salts ( buy from pharmacy). I always try this first when I see yellowing leaves & it works most of the time. Give them this treatment every day until they start getting greener.

Hope this helps.


:rose Hattie :rose

Hey thats great to hear, I always have a bag of Epsom Salts around!!!!