We grew tomatoes for the first time last year using heirloom seedlings from a local hobby grower. This year we decided we wanted to try growing from seed. We planted these about 3 weeks ago in a domed propagation box shown in the third picture. They have grown super leggy to the point where they needed to be potted up to stop them hitting the top/sides of the box. They have little to no root system. Is it simply a lack of enough light that is causing this? Will they grow well from here? I have lots of experience with tropical houseplants but no idea what I am doing with these 😅
by wonderingmystic
15 Comments
I would start over, personally. We start our tomatoes in a north facing bay window (Manawatu, NZ), so they get all day sun. These are also around 3 weeks old.
https://preview.redd.it/v6ui4t95tvof1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=619bf2c12a33e1276cc0ff907b4179e1d5d079f3
Is it too early to start seeding? I was thinking of starting in mid October for heirlooms. Was going to grown in doors till Nov and pot em for Dec
I planted mine late in the spring and put them out in a mini greenhouse as soon as they were up, they all grew strong and healthy and have loads of tomatoes on them. Its tempting to start them early inside but it isn’t necessary.
On top of what others are saying: you should really have a single seedling per pot. They are unnecessarily compete with each other.
If you’re new to the game and have little idea, Google (YT specifically) is your friend when it comes to growing tomatoes from seed indoors and under lights. 👍 I have mine under fluorescent lights , 12 hour cycle, 10 days old, water applied 2 times a day.
https://preview.redd.it/4cu09xm5ewof1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=19f360452e07913c0508693a49b9755291429dba
Most likely not enough sunlight. Don’t worry it will survive, it just needs more lights. 6-8 hr of sunlight
They need a lot more light, and a lot closer.
I find Craig LeHoullier’s YT vids a good resource as well as his book Epic Tomatoes.
Need more light. These could be saved, but might be easier to start form scratch. Tomatoes are adventitious rooters, so if you can stabilise the stems with more soil, you can probably get the roots to develop more.
Pot up… that’s not how it works. They’re leggy because of insufficient light. I suggest you terminate these and start over with more & closer lights. When you terminate, do not *pull*. Use sharp scissors to cut the stem so as not to damage the root system of the other plant.
Also, is it the right time of year to start tomato seeds? You want to start them no earlier than 6-8 weeks before planting season begins. When is that for you? If you don’t know, stop and figure it out. Otherwise you’ll end up with an untenable situation.
The best thing you can do right now is to just lurk in this sub and r/gardening and listen. I learned most of what I know from hearing about other people’s mishaps before I had a chance to personally live them.
Your grow light needs to be closer , couple inches at most. A light breeze with a fan couple hrs a day helps to strengthen them up also.
Plant indoors 3 months before your last frost date. The poly tunnel might add a month
I have a very similar looking grow light I got from Amazon, and I don’t think it’s strong enough for seedlings. Everything I tried starting with it ended up super leggy like yours.
You need some air movement to prevent them from getting leggy. Try an oscillating fan on low.
A lighting tip: I used the Photone app to measure light levels when I did my first round of seed starting this spring. I don’t know how accurate it is, but it really helped me see how close my seedlings needed to be to the grow lights. I was also blown away by the difference between outdoor sunshine and indoor lights. The sun is strong!