Tomato Seedlings stopped growing

[jettgirl24]

I planted three types of heirloom tomato seedlings about 6 to 8 weeks ago. For the first few weeks they germinated and grew great but then they slowed and now they seem to have completely stopped growing. They're about 3 inches tall with only 2 leaves. I have them in the house and they are under lights 12 to 13 hours a day. They aren't dying and don't look unhealthy, they just arent' growing.

Any ideas on what's wrong and how get them going again?

 

[ducks4you]

, jettgirl24!
Could be that they are growing roots. I'm always amazed at the root systems of my crops when I start them from seed and transplant them. Anyway, it's probably warm enough to move them to a sunny window, or, even, if you're in a warmer zone, outside where they can start getting exposure to some wind and sun. (That's called "hardening off.")

 

[Andy J]

At that age,they should be ready for the garden,weather permitting.Did you add any fertilizer to the starting soil mixture?

I start mine in 1/2 garden soil and 1/2 compost and they do great.I don't usually repot them before transplanting them into the garden.

I would say they are root bound and need to be put in a larger container,but you say they haven't grown much.Just guessing,I would think they need fertilizer.

Andy J

 

[journey11]

Hi jettgirl24 and

My first suspect would be the temps in your room where you started them. They will stall out and wait for warmer temps. I like it to get about 80 during the day and not much under 50 at night in my sunroom for my tomatoes and peppers.

I use a sterile starter mix on mine, then water them with a weak solution of miracle-gro once the first true leaves have appeared (1/2 tsp to a gallon water) once a week (with additional plain water as needed to keep them moist). Tomatoes also will do better if you repot them a time or two during that period so they don't get root bound. They can make it to transplant time in their original smaller container, but do better if you move them into something bigger once they reach about say 6" tall. I collect small plastic containers all year for this purpose, drill drainage holes in the bottom and pot them up with regular potting soil. This will help them during the difficult hardening off period so that they are stronger and don't dry out/blow over so easily, IME.

If your last frost date has passed, you should go ahead and set them out (after about a week of hardening off first, of course). They will take off from there. You'll be surprised how much ground a wimpy seedling will gain once conditions for growth are right.

Good luck!

 

[patandchickens]

At 6-8 wks I would expect they're either potbound or ran out of nutrients in the potting medium. THey shoud be ready to put outdoors though, I'd just do that -- have covers ready in case of late frosts, or get you some Wall-o-Waters/Kozy-Kotes.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[lesa]

It took me awhile to figure this one out, too! All my seeds germinated last year, and then stopped growing. I used organic seed starter mix. I just don't think it has enough nourishment for older plants. If you replant now-either outside if you can or in bigger pots with regular potting soil, you will see instant results! Just remember to harden off...Enjoy!

 

[jettgirl24]

Thank you for the tips, I'm going to stop and grab some organic fertilizer of some kind on my way home from work and see if that helps. I've got them in a warm room and I'm taking them outside when it's warm enough but I live in Seattle and our temps are still cool on most days and it's been getting down into the 30s and 40s at night so i've been hesitant to start putting them out yet. Usually the 2nd week of may is when we start moving warmer temp veggies outside.

 

[lesa]

Yep, you are right, still too cold for them outside. (Except on nice days.) I would be careful with the fertilizer- I like the idea of potting soil myself. Keep us posted!

 

[patandchickens]

If many days have some sun, you can set them out in wall-o-waters. (Let the wall o waters sit out there, filled and set up, for a few days before you put the plants in them)

Otherwise I would suggest potting them on into bigger pots -- the extra potting medium you add will give them plenty of nutrients, and you might consider planting them "up to their necks" to encourage root rather than leaf development -- and treating them as outdoor container plants til they can be put in the ground. I.e. set them somewhere warm, like against the S wall of your house, and cover or bring in on the colder nights.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[ducks4you]

I don't know about YOU'all, but I LOVES to repot, pretty much...ANYTHING!! My mom got me 8 evergreen trees on super, super, clearance, and I just got them transplanted into bigger pots this morning. I like to see how quickly I can efficiently do this, kind of like--and Pat will appreciate this--I used to have a record for wrapping my 4 horses for shipping, with quilts and polos--I could do it in 20 minutes, a little bit like the kid who stacks cups!! After a couple of seasons growing tomatoes you'll be repotting, like the rest of us, when they grow faster than planned.