Tomato seedlings problem

[jubilado]

My first attempt at growing toms from seed.
They are in an unheated propagator in the living room window. They germinated very quickly and 10 days later they are about 40mm high, very spindly and weak. Second leaves are just forming. I assume they have grown too quickly. Not sure if they have too much heat or too much light so not sure where to move them. I'm wondering if I should replant and bury the weak stem or if the right conditions will strengthen them. Any tips would be useful. Thanks

[Scoot]

Start again. Sounds like they have to much heat. Once they germinate, move them to a cooler area of the house in as much light as possible.

[Ryleh]

I did similar with my first batch of seedlings. For me it was because I was using a new heated propagator so things happened quicker than I expected and by the time I realised the seedlings were up they were too leggy.

Seedlings becoming leggy are usually down to either too much heat or not enough light.

My suggested methods of saving leggy seedlings are either transplanting them so that more of the stem is buried so that further root growth takes place and makes the plant more stable. You could also try having a fan blow gently on them to simulate the wind which in turn sometimes causes the seedlings to think they are in a windy location so they strengthen.

Your other option is to start again, its early so shouldnt cost you long in time to get more seedlings going and identify the reason they got leggy in the first place and correct it.

[veggiechicken]

Once they've germinated they need maximum light. I take the cover off the propagator then. Rotate the seedlings to keep them straight (not leaning to the light).
When you plant them out, you can bury them up to the seed leaves, but, unless you have healthy plants to start with, its not worth it.
Better to resow in March.

[Gillykat]

I did exactly the same thing last year Got my allotment on February 20th and sowed tomato, sweet pepper and cucumber seeds a couple of days later. They grew quickly on my south-facing windowsill but ended up too leggy due to lack of light (even though it seemed bright to me). I was told exactly what you've been told here - slightly bigger pot (mine were a few weeks old at this point) and bury up to first leaves. I didn't move them to my greenhouse and then polytunnel until early May and they DID catch up once the warm weather arrived. Sadly the sweet peppers and cucumber succumbed to the cold....but it is, after all, a learning process

This year I'm waiting until late March before sowing tomatoes and cucumbers

[solanaceae]

I think you have it warm enough otherwise they wouldn't have germinated. Sounds to me like they are becoming leggy in their search for more light.

Personally, If I was to grow mine by the window, I'd make sure it's a place that gets lots of Sun and start sowing in April - the light levels just aren't helpful right now.

There is an alternative, you could use a grow light to start them off. I sowed mine 3rd week of Jan and now they are doing really well under the light, not overly tall and healthy looking thick stems with several leaves on each plant. The only problem starting them off this early is you have to maintain the level of light and care they get all the way up until planting out in May/June. You need to make sure your room is well ventilated, has plenty of room to accommodate the plants once you start upgrading their pot size etc. So yes a bit of a nuisance - but the plus side is you will be able to start harvesting your toms from beginning of July potentially and your plants will be able to produce a far greater yield.

[Jungle Jane]

February is very early for tomato seeds unless you have some artificial lights,but even then they have to wait months before being planted out,unless you have a greenhouse with heating. So I start the majority of my seeds in March. Have you taken the lid off of the propagater? They grow tall like that when there's insufficient light. How many seedlings do you have? Because of the lack of daylight hours & darkness of February,after you pot them on deeper they'l still grow leggy & thin searching for light,maybe pot some on & start a few more seeds in March?

[sparrow100]

The other thing to try and maximise light is to give your pots/seed tray a tin foil collar, shiny side to the seedlings. This reflects more light onto them and helps prevent legginess.

This is my only seedling windowsill around March/April time. Second shelf stands on books & beer stein legs. For true replica of ambience, add an OH harrumphing at the clutter on the windowsill...

https://mudandgluts.files.wordpress....-seedlings.jpg

[jubilado]

Thanks. I have 15 pots with 2 seedlings in each. I intend to prick out the weaker of the two. I think I will plant in deeper pots for now. They are on the brightest windowsill already. Now they are germinated is it too soon to move to an unheated greenhouse? I am on the south coast so milder here. I'll also get some more seeds.

[Jungle Jane]

You can put them in the greenhouse when it's about 14 degrees celsius? It's a bit cold everywhere in the uk at the moment. The foil idea from sparrow looks good for maximising the light to help with legginess.

[Penellype]

White paper is better than foil at reflecting light. Human eyes are a very poor light monitor because as light levels change our pupils contract or expand to let in as near a constant amount of light as possible. This is why you sometimes don't notice darkness slowly creeping up on you until it is really quite dark. Leaves can't do this, so the plants will grow long and leggy looking for brighter light even in conditions which may seem reasonably bright to us.

[Scarlet]

I'm in the South West, my toms go in the GH during the day from April time and then I carry them back to the house every evening. I make this trip every night until May. During May I check the forecast daily, if frosts are likely I will bring them indoors again, if it's just going to dip below 10 for abfew hours I'll cover them over with some fleece.
They will be indoors for a long time so it is wise to be very nice to the OH