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Garden Gate:  Help What Is Wrong With My Tomato  |
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akcowgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
296 Posts
Valerie
Homer
Alaska
USA
296 Posts |
 Posted - May 07 2006 : 11:58:44 AM
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Ok so I planted both of these tomatoes at the same time and look how much smaller the one is that the other. What is wrong this it. all the rest are looking great. they were all germinated on a heat blanket till they sprouted then put under a grow light till it is warm enough here to put them in the green house. Please let me know what you think
here are all the tomatoes under there light. non of the rest of them are stunted. What gives
that is the stunted one in the middle infront of the tile. i am not sure how well you can see it in this picture.
Valerie
Yes, I live in my own little world. But that's ok they know me here.
Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2006 : 12:49:06 PM
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I don't know! Maybe sometimes one just is weaker than the rest, kind of like a runt in the litter?
I have a bunch of tomatoes outside (bringing them in when frost is forecasted) and find that somehow the ones in the back of the house are way bigger (south side of house) than the ones on the west side of the house by the garage door that get more sunlight, but also more wind exposure. But even within these groups there is a lot of variation. I started way too many seeds and figure I will plant the biggest and strongest ones in my garden, when the time comes (May 15 is our last frost date here.)
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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akcowgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
296 Posts
Valerie
Homer
Alaska
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2006 : 12:55:26 PM
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do you think it could be the contaner it is in. it is the only one in a cardboard contaner, and it is the only one in a container that is smaller that the rest, all the rest are in cut off milk jugs and this one is in a cut off half gallon orange juice container.
Valerie
Yes, I live in my own little world. But that's ok they know me here.
Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.
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Edited by - akcowgirl on May 07 2006 12:55:55 PM |
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DaisyFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
1646 Posts
Diane
Victoria
BC
Canada
1646 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2006 : 1:18:20 PM
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I think that Brenda is closer to having an answer...that it's just the runt of the litter. I have planted seeds in six-cell packs and have four huge ones and two that just don't grow properly. Same soil, same water, same light.
A small fan might harden up the stems a little too by simulating natural wind. Don't blow it directly onto the plants, just sort of beside them so that they get the air movement. That helps to prevent blight as well.
I too plant more than I need so that I can pick out the hardiest and healthiest to plant. There's always a few gimpy ones that end up in the compost.
Di
http://www.daisyfarm.blogspot.com |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2006 : 2:04:52 PM
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Like all of God's mysteries, seeds contain different qualities too. I have found this many times in my seedlings. However, plant all of them in the ground in your garden, take care of them equally, and they will ALL strengthen and provide fruit.
Peace |
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OregonGal
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Chris
No. IL
USA
511 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2006 : 2:09:42 PM
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I would check to make sure the drainage holes on the bottom of the container are clear - if it has too much water it won't do well. The leaves look a little yellower than the other plant to me in the pictures - that's why I think it may be getting/holding too much water. I think at this point, if it (they) were mine, I'd take it out of the container, very carefully, stir up the soil, and replant it deeper in the container, so only the top leaves are sticking out (remove any leaves that would be under the soil). The stem part under the soil will produce a bunch more roots and you'll have a sturdier plant. That would aerate the soil too if it's too soggy. It wouldn't hurt to crush up some egg shells and put that in there too, along with a small spoonful of wood ashes mixed in, if you have some handy. That's all I can think of. Good luck.
"...a merry heart does good like a medicine, it has the power to cure." |
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
705 Posts
Robin
An organic farm in the forest in
Maine
USA
705 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2006 : 3:10:35 PM
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I also think it's just a "runt." To avoid the plants being leggy like this you can drop the light down to 1-2" above the top of the plants. Seedlings grown that will be much stockier and stronger than tall and thin plants are.
Robin
www.thymeforewe.com
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akcowgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
296 Posts
Valerie
Homer
Alaska
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2006 : 3:54:42 PM
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The light was right on top of them about 2 inches, that is why i am a little confused about this batch. All the ones i started in seedling mix are shorter and stockier and older then the ones i started in regular potting soil. could that have something to do with it. but i agree it is probably just a runt.
Valerie
Yes, I live in my own little world. But that's ok they know me here.
Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2006 : 4:32:10 PM
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I started about 15 tomatos from seed, I got about 6 that didn't grow as big as the others. But I have planted them all and figure eventually they will catch up. I think it is what everyone is saying here, some seed germinate differently, have different characteristics and can be just runts of the pack. All of mine were in the same soil, same light, same water, some just grew better then others.
Anne
"Second star to the right, straight on till morning" Peter Pan
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
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ali2583
True Blue Farmgirl
404 Posts
Alison
Winnipeg
Manitoba
Canada
404 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2006 : 3:18:32 PM
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I planted 2 dozen tomato seeds...4 have just plain died on me, some have lost a couple leaves, and some are really thriving. Some of them are also starting to develop thicker stalks. I'd even be happy if only 1/2 of them made it!
A friend of mine told me a great trick to strengthen the plants. If they are inside, run your hand or a wooden spoon over the top leaves of the plants a couple times. This mimics a "wind" blowing over them and will strengthen the root system. Hope that helps.
"God's gift to you is life. What you choose to do with that life is your gift to God" |
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n/a
deleted
74 Posts
Tammy
Southern Coast
Oregon
74 Posts |
Posted - May 09 2006 : 09:18:22 AM
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I hope this is helpful...To keep the plants from becoming leggy, they need lots of light. When we plant seeds, if we are using a grow light we put the light 2-3 inches from the top of the container. Then as the plants grow we move the light a little higher each day trying to keep it 2-3 inches from the top of the plants.
The trick Alison mentioned about strengthening the stalks really works too. It should be done a couple times a day.
Last thought, when you plant the tomatoes, remove all but the very top true leave and plant the entire stalk under ground. Even up to a foot of stalk can be planted. Tomatoes will produce lateral roots from the stalk so the deeper it's planted, the more roots it produces and the healthier your plant will be.
When I feel spring coming I have to plant or I’ll go crazy! |
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Garden Gate: Help What Is Wrong With My Tomato |
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Help What Is Wrong With My Tomato
