Tomato Starts - Opinions?

[McKinney88]

I have only planted tomato starts one other time a couple years ago and didn't really nurture them like I should have and they died fairly quickly on. This year I have tried again, I planted some Red Brandywine seed maybe a week and a half ago and this is how they look now:



Now I'm not sure when I should put these in some bigger pots. These plants have gone outdoors since they have come up. I have not been using a growing light. I also am going out of town next week so I am thinking I might need to go ahead and transplant them before I leave. Opinions?

This is kind of an experiment for me. If they grow and turn into good plants, then great! If not, try again and figure out what I did wrong. I think it would be so cool to say you can grow your own tomato plants and don't have to get them at a store.

[dtizme]

Personally I would try both. Starters @ this time from a store should be well ahead of what you have started now but I would try them as well. Sounds like the problem with the starters before was either underwatering or poor soil. I have never had any issues with starters from a store. Most people who will be starting from seed would have started atleast a month or more ago I would imagine.

[McKinney88]

These plants are only a week and a half old. I know I'm late starting these but I just wanted to see what would happen.

[feldon30]

I have not been using a growing light. Opinions?

Use a growing light.

[McKinney88]

I have not been using a growing light. Opinions?

Use a growing light.

Ok I will get mine out and try it.

[rainbowgardener]

Or just put them outside! You are in TN, you weather should be just fine. They will be more adapted to their conditions, if they just grow outside.

Your seedling babies do look a bit spindly and leaning for the light. And yes, you did get a very late start. At this point you can expect ripe tomatoes from these babies somewhere around the beginning of Sept, which of course leaves you a fairly short tomato season after all those months of nurturing them.

Feel free to keep doing it, but I would buy some well started tomato plants from a good local nursery, so that you actually have some tomatoes this summer. My tomato plants, started from seed under lights in my basement are now in the ground, well over a foot tall and blossoming.

[McKinney88]

I have been putting them outside as much as I can when the weather allows it. We get rain pretty frequently right now. I already have 7 plants I have bought from a store, so I will have tomatoes on time. Like I said, this is just a see if it works thing and will serve as good practice for next spring but I do appreciate the inputs.

[gixxerific]

Rainbow is right they will be late but why not plant some. Getting some better established is also a great idea.

Heck I just had some new seedlings pop today for fall, but than again I'm nuts like that.

[Ohio Tiller]

Go buy some starter plants that are much farther along and plant yours with them you will be eating tomatoes when everybody else's plants are done.

[McKinney88]

OhioTiller I already have 7 plants I bought at the store.

This is what they look like right now:



The ones in the green thing are cherry tomatoes. In the top with the light brown soil is red brandywine. In the bottom is red pearl and mortgage lifter.

[McKinney88]

I put my plants in bigger cups a week ago and they have been doing great. I noticed tonight the underside of all the leaves are turning purple? From I read, that means the plants have a magnesium or phosphorous deficiency. The plants are in a miracle grow vegetable/fruit mix. I only water them maybe once a week.

I also sprayed them with my soapy water mix I discussed in another thread and I forgot to wash it off and it looks like it caused a little bit of spotting/damage. Could this be related?

[rainbowgardener]

The purpling underneath is common in indoor tomatoes and will go away when they are planted in the ground.

[gixxerific]

Yes the purpling is normally from colder temps. Same thing with the dark plants with anthociyanin. Around here they are very dark in the early spring but the plants turn more green as the heat comes on.

[McKinney88]

Here is some updated pics:







In the last picture, the two far rows are directly under the light. The 3rd row, closest to the camera, isn't. Do I need another light or will those be ok?

[valley]

Hi, I would have the light a lot closer, maybe 2" away.

Richard

[rainbowgardener]

Yes, light needs to be only a couple inches away from the plants, hung so it can be raised as the plants grow.

The front plants will tell you if they need their own light. If they start leaning towards the light, that is the sign that they aren't getting enough.

[McKinney88]

Ok I will lower the light. It's on chains so I can move it easily. You guys are great!

[katatak]

You should be able to pick tomotoes from the newly planted ones past september. If you can keep the frost away you should be able to pick all through october. I live in the Ohio valley and it isn't unusual to pick into November if we don't get a hard freeze and your growing conditions are much longer than ours. Good luck !

[JayPoc]

You should be able to pick tomotoes from the newly planted ones past september. If you can keep the frost away you should be able to pick all through october. I live in the Ohio valley and it isn't unusual to pick into November if we don't get a hard freeze and your growing conditions are much longer than ours. Good luck !

Man....I wish it worked that way here. I lose out to disease way before the frost.....sigh...

[McKinney88]

I have my plants outside under a willow tree in the shade the past two days. They are around 8" tall. I think they are ready for the sun now. Should I do an hour in the sun the first day, two hours the second day, etc?

[McKinney88]

Here is pic of them now.