Hi everyone,
Growing a couple of tomato varieties from Johnnys Seeds (big beef plus and granadero), but all the seedlings (3 of each) are STRUGGLING. Meanwhile, all of my sungolds are thriving, as are all 6 of my pepper and eggplant varieties.
Any thoughts on what I could be doing wrong? Pictures attached.
Thanks!!
by balcony_garden
3 Comments
Are you top watering?
Could they be ready for re-potting? Tomatoes actually like to be re-potted. Maybe they need more space. You can sink that stem into the soil too
Your Big Beef and Granadero seedlings are hungry and running out of real estate. The upward leaf cupping and pale green color are classic signs of mild nutrient stress and early root crowding. Big slicing tomatoes are heavy feeders and they exhaust sterile seed starting mix much faster than peppers or cherry tomatoes like your Sungolds. They are basically starving in those tiny cells while the less demanding plants are still coasting on whatever trace energy is left.
You need to pot them up immediately. Get them out of those starter trays and into three or four inch pots filled with a quality potting mix that actually has some compost or fertilizer in it. When you transplant them bury those stems right up to the bottom leaves. Tomatoes will shoot out roots all along the buried stem which will give you a massive root system and a much sturdier plant for the garden.
If you absolutely cannot pot them up today hit them with a quarter strength liquid fertilizer to tide them over. Just remember fertilizer in a cramped cell will only buy you a few days before the roots completely bind up and stunt the plant. Keep your watering consistent by waiting until the pots feel light before soaking them again so the roots can actually breathe.