Now my tommies are dying!

[Naga]

I am growing chillies and tomatoes but have a problem with the tommies. I started them off in cotton wool in the airing cupboard, about a week later they were about 3cm tall which was great, apart from when I tried to pot them!

When I transferred them over to pots the root was deep in the cotton wool and had to apply a little force to get them out, I think I did a good job but a few hours after potting they have all fallen over and look like they are dying, anyone know what I have done wrong? I think I suck at this gardening lark!

[zazen999]

Hi

I've just moved your thread into Vegging Out as it was posted into Growing Techniques.

Hopefully someone will now see this and give you some advice.

I've not heard of sowing into cotton wool before.

[lynda66]

if the root had grown through the cotton wool, i'd have left it, it must have been happy ....... cotton wool will break down eventually anyway, as it is a natural product.

[Alice]

You could just have planted them in the cotton wool Herby - no need to disturb the roots by trying to get them out. But why cotton wool - they would have germinated just as well in 3" pots of compost and done well there for some time.
It is very early for tomatoes - but maybe you know what you are doing.
Light is liable to be a problem at this time of year. I reckon it's about February before the light is good enough.
But, I'm going to plant some Sub Arctic Plenty at the end of the month. They're not great tomatoes but they were bred to grow in poor light conditions, so I'll give them a go. It will give me babies to look after.
Do let us know how you get on.

[Two_Sheds]

I am growing chillies and tomatoes but have a problem with the tommies. I started them off in cotton wool in the airing cupboard, about a week later they were about 3cm tall which was great

well, not so great ~ lack of light leads to lank floppy weak growth.

I won't be sowing tomatoes and chillies for at least another month ... it's just too dark right now.

[bobleponge]

Agree with TS, lack of light causes exactly that.
I will be trying the tomato experiment with the moon goddess though, will be going in early on the 28th when I get home.
I spose natural cotton wool isnt much different to germinating stuff on damp kitchen towels, except that cotton wool is quite fibrous, which the roots will grow round and through etc. This would have caused problems when you took them out.
Maybe try again into compost if you are determined to plant early?
I sowed on boxing day last year and the majority of my sowings grew to fruit, so it can be done with reasonable management.

[shirlthegirl43]

As others have said, wait a few weeks and try some more. I would also suggest standing them on a bright windowsill to germinate rather than in a dark place. You will get slower, stronger growth in a cooler, brighter place.

I chucked out my Sub Artic Plenty seeds at the weekend when I had a big seed sortout - got one fruit off 3 plants last year and Madmax says Shirley are much nicer tasting (they also ripened about a month earlier than the SAP!

[smallblueplanet]

I chucked out my Sub Artic Plenty seeds at the weekend when I had a big seed sortout - got one fruit off 3 plants last year and Madmax says Shirley are much nicer tasting (they also ripened about a month earlier than the SAP!

We also ditched Sub Artic last year - not early at all....how did your aubs go Shirley?

Are you growing under lights Herby otherwise its very early for toms, later sowings will easily catch up?

[shirlthegirl43]

We also ditched Sub Artic last year - not early at all....how did your aubs go Shirley?

I got one to form but had such a rubbish growing season it didn't ripen. Still have some seeds (thanks) so going to try again - hopefully we will see more sun and I will have better energy levels.

[gojiberry]

Your tomatoes may well perk up, but as everyone is saying it is rather early for sowing tommies. Still good luck.

Ian

[Flummery]

You've got plenty of time to sow more. My toms get sown in March.