Tomato - not developing

[Rhona]

I'm growing Pomodero Ciliegia for the first time from Seeds of Italy. They germinated easily enough, and all produced their feeder leaves. However, the first true leaves are starting to appear but don't seem to be developing. They all have little tiny stubs, and a couple with slightly larger leaves, but they're just not growing!

The stems are fattening a bit, and the feeder leaves are still there. They're on a South facing sill, and get plenty of light. They appear healthy enough, just not growing!

I've grown tomatoes for years - different varieties - and never had this problem before. I'm not impatient, but they have been like this for nearly two weeks, and still just barely-there stubs.

I'll obviously just leave them and see how they go, but curious as to why they're behaving like this.

[bramble]

Sorry Rhona, can't be of any help. Like you I have grown tomatoes for a long time and also have grown several variety but, have not encountered this problem.
Let us know please, how they get on.

[King Carrot]

Could they be "Blind" and have abnormal leaf and stem growth - I've heard it can happen to Toms that have had very high germinating temps, otherwise you may just have misfits - kind of genetic mutations, I suppose .

Nothing to lose by leaving them growing and perhaps they'll work something out for themselves - good luck with them.

[Tomatoking]

Rhona, having a quick 'google' around, I saw a similar variety of cherry tomatoes and it said they grow on two to three stems, like a bush tomato I presume. Seeing they are healthy enough, I would just see how they develop
and keep us informed.
I did put some bush tomatoes in my greenhouse last year, and it looked to me as though they were growing blind to start with.
Mr TK

[emily84]

I probably cannot offer very helpful info to a more experienced tomato grower but since potting mine on I've had a similar thing.

I'm finding that if the day is light but not sunny, they do not really do anything. Had a panic last week as they just seemed to have stopped all together but since we've had a few days of beautiful sunshine, they've gone crazy and are looking super good at the moment.

Not sure of it's made a difference but I've started watering them with a spray bottle and they seem to love that, I wonder if the larger spread of water is encourging the roots to spread.

[Rhona]

Thanks all. Having now looked up the blind thing (I'd never heard of it before); I think that makes sense. Very odd phenomenon, from I've glanced at. I will leave them to see what happens, but will get planting some others sharpish.

I've got loads of other seeds, but a bit miffed that I've wasted three weeks of growing them! I haven't planted loads of tomatoes this year (apart from these) and so am VERY behind now...

[Tomato]

I had the same problem in the North-Italy. Very cloudy and sometimes foggy weather.
Tomatoes definitely "eats" sun, so you may try to build up a light box with artificial lights to help them growing when the sun is not shining so much!

[Rhona]

I'm wondering if it might be the compost - some salad leaves are also looking stunted. Is that possible d'you think?

Everything else I propagated in it was ok - squash, leeks and something else. But the salad leaves aren't right either.

I'm blaming the compost now. It's either that or I'm just having a rubbish start to the season. Next door neighbour has loads of tomato seedings (just checked, I'm doing his watering whilst on hols), so I know where I can scrounge some anyway.

[Bren In Pots]

What compost have you used Rhona ?

[King Carrot]

I'm wondering if it might be the compost - some salad leaves are also looking stunted. Is that possible d'you think?

Everything else I propagated in it was ok - squash, leeks and something else. But the salad leaves aren't right either.

I'm blaming the compost now. It's either that or I'm just having a rubbish start to the season. Next door neighbour has loads of tomato seedings (just checked, I'm doing his watering whilst on hols), so I know where I can scrounge some anyway.

I hope it's not Aminopyralid weedkiller residue in your compost, it certainly has an effect on Pots, Toms, Cu family, Onions and Legumes.

Herbicide contamination of manure and straw

[Rhona]

I hope it's not Aminopyralid weedkiller residue in your compost, it certainly has an effect on Pots, Toms, Cu family, Onions and Legumes.

Herbicide contamination of manure and straw

I think you're right.

I gave up waiting and repotted the toms a couple of weeks ago. They're healthy, bushy little plants now! I was lucky - all survived but a couple of weeks behind. Amazingly, a couple were pretty much just stalk, the feeder leaves had shrivelled, and there was the tiniest bit of true leaf showing; but they pulled round.

I had leeks in the same stuff, and I've moved those as well - they haven't grown for a fortnight either.

When I opened this compost, I thought I didn't like the look of it for some reason. Next time, I'll listen to that inner-voice...

[King Carrot]

What compost was it? Might be a good idea to warn peeps!

[Rhona]

It was Homebase stuff. Never tried it before but needed a quick fix of something. They must sell tons of it, so prolly just a bad batch. I won't risk it again though - stick to my tried and tested.

[2granmas]

Had a similar problem with b&q compost,nothing looked very good so promptly potted on everything into more expensive stuff and it all took off within a couple of days. Won't be going down the cheap route again!!!

[Rhona]

I'm slightly fascinated by these tomatoes now. They're totally stunted, but mature, like bonsai tomato plants. They're the same height as my month-old ones, but thick-stemmed and starting to flower. It's going to be interesting to see what the fruit is like.