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One more question, then I'm done for a long time. I swear!

My yellow pear tomato seedlings are about an inch to an inch and a half tall, but they're already growing their 2nd set of true leaves. They're very tiny, yes, but there. Is it normal for them to start getting their true leaves at this small of height/girth? They are in 3inch pots and have plenty of room to grow, so should not be rootbound.

if they're on track for a normal seedling, about when should I begin harden them off and set them out? If they aren't tall/thick enough for setting out yet, or are extremely behind, what should I do for them to help them along? They aren't leggy at all and are doing well.

Also, I ran out of pots when planting the seeds original, and put two of them into one pot. They are both growing and doing well- when's a good time to seperate them into seperate pots, or can I keep them together?

Is there any extra care they will need, that's different from my regular red cherry variety that I'm used to growing? I've already found a thread that says a few things about them and warns that they're going to grow all over-- I think I'm doomed, as I only wanted 2 plants but ended up with 10 seedlings! augh!

Does anyone have a photo of one that's growing, so I know what to expect and where to put them in my garden...?

Well, I had so much trouble with Yellow Pear tomatoes splitting that after 4 seasons of trying, I gave up growing the variety. But, that doesn't have anything to do with your seedlings, SPierce.

I don't remember anything special about them when they were really small. Do they have tiny, tiny seed like Sungold? Actually, it sounds like they are doing okay. It is sure better that they are developing their true leaves at 1 1/2" rather than stretching up to 4" still on their seed leaves!

You could probably wait until about June 1st to set them out but there's probably nothing wrong with transplanting early, as long as they are hardened off properly and the weather conditions are good.

Probably, you have a long enuf growing season that you should have plenty of fruit before the season comes to an end. Yes, they do grow to be very large plants. You shouldn't feel like you have to fill your garden with them just because so many seeds came up. I mean, I once slipped a whole flat of plants into the backyard of someone I didn't even know !

Steve
edited to say: think about getting a little fertilizer to them. that might be a problem.

digitS' wrote:Well, I had so much trouble with Yellow Pear tomatoes splitting that after 4 seasons of trying, I gave up growing the variety. But, that doesn't have anything to do with your seedlings, SPierce.

I don't remember anything special about them when they were really small. Do they have tiny, tiny seed like Sungold? Actually, it sounds like they are doing okay. It is sure better that they are developing their true leaves at 1 1/2" rather than stretching up to 4" still on their seed leaves!

You could probably wait until about June 1st to set them out but there's probably nothing wrong with transplanting early, as long as they are hardened off properly and the weather conditions are good.

Probably, you have a long enuf growing season that you should have plenty of fruit before the season comes to an end. Yes, they do grow to be very large plants. You shouldn't feel like you have to fill your garden with them just because so many seeds came up. I mean, I once slipped a whole flat of plants into the backyard of someone I didn't even know !

Steve
edited to say: think about getting a little fertilizer to them. that might be a problem.

Thank you I don't have fertilizer, but I have given them plenty of compost which will hopefully help to feed them! I would be interested, also, to hear about the problems you've run into with them, or any IDs you've been able to make.

and I'm already giving seedlings away, I think I got myself down to, maybe 5? I have 3 large 5 gallon buckets, I might plant the extras in there and watch to see what they do. They do have VERY small seeds, though. I put them into the soil pots with a small flat spreader, as my fingers couldn't lift them...

DW loves them and since I love DW . . .

The only problem probably had entirely to do, first with a semi-arid climate with humidity down below 20% on most any summer afternoon. Secondly, with the use of overhead sprinklers in the vegetable garden.

The fruit would split. Off 4 plants during the final year - I am sure I didn't harvest enuf unsplit Yellow Pears to fill a hat.

Steve

digitS' wrote:DW loves them and since I love DW . . .

The only problem probably had entirely to do, first with a semi-arid climate with humidity down below 20% on most any summer afternoon. Secondly, with the use of overhead sprinklers in the vegetable garden.

The fruit would split. Off 4 plants during the final year - I am sure I didn't harvest enuf unsplit Yellow Pears to fill a hat.

Steve

Gotcha

And so overhead sprinkling is a bad idea? I had been using a garden hose from the house, or a watering can. Sad to hear you had a rough time with yours. I don't know what the heck I'm doing to do with mine; I have 12 seedlings and I only need 3 or 4 to plant. I just don't have the heart to let them die, and I don't know enough people to give them too. I think I'm going to be tired of tomatoes by the end of the season

my plants are now 3.5 feet tall after 1 month and 1 week and have tons of green ones about the size of a fig but no color yet but this is my first year planting them good luck

speedster7926 wrote:my plants are now 3.5 feet tall after 1 month and 1 week and have tons of green ones about the size of a fig but no color yet but this is my first year planting them good luck

Ah! Sadly, I'm a bit behind that still. They're getting their 2nd/3rd sets of leaves. Are they outside in the garden already? it's still a bit too cold to plant mine out ;D

but speedster is in FLORIDA, of course they are ahead of you!!

rainbowgardener wrote:but speedster is in FLORIDA, of course they are ahead of you!!

I'm still jealous. I want tomatoes already, too

mine have been out since last week in march I bought at wal-mart as plants already I want seeds though but its been 70+ here since prob 2nd week in feb

Well, I suppose all I can do is plant them and find out what happens ;D