HELP! Tomato Plants Look Terrible...

[BlountArrow]

So, I'm doing a garden this year for the first time. I've helped my papaw in years past, but never done one on my own. I am attempting to go with only heirloom seeds. So, back in mid-February I started some tomato seeds (Red Brandywines, Marianna's Peace, and Livingston's Favorite). Two months later almost and this is what they look like. I guess they are roughly 3" tall, some have started to show their true leaves so last week I re-potted them into larger containers. I started them in Jiffy organic mix, and replanted them in Organic potting soil. Should they look yellow like this? I know these aren't the best pics in the world but what do you think??? What else do you need to know? I've kept them under flourescent lights inches away from the plant, and about a week ago I started putting them outside for a couple hours in the sunlight then I would bring them back in. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mausermeister]

Looks like too much water. Do the cups have drain holes?

 

[BlountArrow]

Looks like too much water. Do the cups have drain holes?

Yeah, all the pots the plantes have ever been in had holes in them. I was worried about over watering. Maybe I did over water, but I tried not to water unless they looked wilted or if the potting mix was hard as a rock.

Any other thoughts anybody?

 

[Mausermeister]

Could partially be pH too low. Jiffy is mostly peat and from the pics it looks like your organic mix has a lot of ground up pine bark. Both are high acid. Maters need a pH between 6 and 7 to do well.

Also what kind of bulbs in your lights? I've never started plants uder flourescents, but I have been told some types of bulbs don't work well, especially the new "green" bulbs.

Most likely not just one thing, but a combination.

 

[BlountArrow]

Could partially be pH too low. Jiffy is mostly peat and from the pics it looks like your organic mix has a lot of ground up pine bark. Both are high acid. Maters need a pH between 6 and 7 to do well.

Also what kind of bulbs in your lights? I've never started plants uder flourescents, but I have been told some types of bulbs don't work well, especially the new "green" bulbs.

Most likely not just one thing, but a combination.

You're right the Jiffy Mix was mostly peat in my opinion too, but when I re-potted them in another organic mix I did notice a lot of "mulch type" products. I'm not sure what types of flourescent lights - just standard lights, not green or anything special. I read online to start them under flourescents because that type of light better replicates the rays of the sun (supposedly). Do you think I need to just go stick them in the ground in the garden and see what happens? I'm worried they're on a downward spiral.

 

[Diehard Hunter]

Make sure your lights are emitting enough of the blue and red wavelengths. A grow light will, If you are using regular flourescents, use the cool white kind. Both wavelengths are needed for good growth.

 

[WestTn Huntin man]

Your seedlings will do better with new florescent bulbs.I would suggest using seed starting mix in the future. They may have been re-potted a little early.

 

[BlountArrow]

I haven't been using a true grow light. But, at this point with warm weather would I just be better off to expose them to natural sunlight most of the day? I did use a seed starting mix for almost 2 months. I re-potted them thinking maybe they had just robbed all the nutrients from the seed starting mix. What's the smartest course of action here now?

Thanks guys!

 

[Diehard Hunter]

You can place them outside for the light, but be sure to bring them in at night until they have been hardened off and there is no chance of frost.

 

[BlountArrow]

You can place them outside for the light, but be sure to bring them in at night until they have been hardened off and there is no chance of frost.

Thank you, sir. That is just what I will do. Hopefully they will turn around for me. They look pretty puny right now. I have a few with true leaves. Will the cotyledons eventually just wilt away and fall off (I'm assuming so)? I guess I just expected the true leaves to be better developed at this point almost 2 months later. If you or anyone thinks of anything else I'd love to hear it.

 

[Diehard Hunter]

The cotyledons will wilt and fall off. Hopefully you will have true leaves by then.

 

[BlountArrow]

on some of them the true leaves are just starting to poke out and the cotyledons look like they could fall off any day.I hope they make it; don't know what else to do at this point.

 

[Wobblyshot1]

Looks like you may be fighting a losing battle. Those seedlings, if you started them in feb., should be ready to go in the ground by now. It's not too late to start over. Get yourself some seed starting mix. I think maybe that may be your main problem. Get them started by the end of the week and you can have them in the ground by June. Late, but not too late. If you need some seed, PM me and I'll mail you some.

 

[catman529]

I grew in miracle gro organic potting mix once, the plants were so bad I had to pull them out and put in fresh regular miracle gro potting mix. Yours are malnourished. As soon as the first true leaves start to come out, pot them up to miracle gro potting mix (has time release fert) because jiffy mix has no added nutrients, it is only for the purpose of sprouting the seeds. Once the nutrients in the seed leaves are used up and the true leaves come out, they need fertile soil to grow in.

 

[BlountArrow]

Well, I could see the writing on the wall so I broke down and went to Lenoir City and visited a little private nursery and picked me up about 6 dozen tomatoe plants of various heirloom varieties about a week ago. There isn't a one of these tomato plants under 8" tall either. I went a little crazy, but ended up only spending $28 and got around 6 dozen tomatoes, a dozen Tennessee Cheese peppers, some cantaloupe, and I think that is it. My failing seedlings still aren't dead so I'll probably plant a few and see what happens. I did give them some miracle grow a couple days ago, but don't notice any difference yet.

I think I will plant my tomatoes tomorrow afternoon because I'm just tired of handling the big fellars in and out of the house. I hope the weather cooperates though!