HELP PLEASE - LEGGY TOMATOES!

[clemmie5]

I hope someone can help as I am new to germinating plants from seed and my problem is that they are shooting skywards at a great rate! My main problem seems to be the tomatoes but the marigolds and petunias seem to be following the same pattern. I germinated them in the front bedroom which is the lightest place and have faithfully kept it at around 20 degrees. The plants came through about a week ago and the tomatoes are already over 2 inches tall, but of course with painfully thin stems.
Should I try to repot them and cover some of the stem or should I just leave alone? Should they stay indoors or would an unheated greenhouse be better? The days are warm here now,in France, but nights are still only just above freezing.
Any advice would really be appreciaated as I don't want to fall at the first hurdle.
Thanks in advance
Sue

[Angi]

They may not be getting enough light. Have you got time to put them in the greenhouse during the day then bring them indoors at night. If you do put them in your greenhouse make sure the temp doesn't soar during the day though, otherwise they'll fry!

[Tigger]

You could re-pot the tomatoes deeply, namely plant most of the first part of the stem, and they will grow more sturdily.

Watch out though - JB will be here soon to tell you otherwise!

[alan refail]

Once seeds germinate, without top light they are inclined to go leggy. You could try potting on and keeping light - and cooler than 20C. In any case it's by no means too late to resow.

Alan

[Tel]

When planting seeds on a windowsill, surround the pot on the rear side with aluminium foil to reflect the light back. The seedlings will grow strong & straight.

[dewwex]

tomatos seedlings can be quite leggy at the best of times. its quite natural for them to be over 1" to the seed leaves in the first week. there is a thoerey that tomatoe plants should be grown a bit stretched anyhow.

But i agree with others. MAX DIRECT SUNLIGHT!

I would not throw them out yet!

[Colin_M]

If it helps, I thought I'd started my toms too early as they looked tall, spindly & pathetic. They are on a windowsill in my conservatory.

However we must have had enough warmth & sun in the last few weeks as they've all developed a good set of leaves and now look better balanced.


Can anyone advise when would be ok to put them outside into an unheated greenhouse?


Colin

[Jenny Green]

I would put them outside during the day and bring them in at night for the next four weeks or so at least. Temperatures below 10 degrees or so are supposed to do them little good.

[Tigger]

Similarly - I've got mine in a heated tunnel overnight - unheated with open doors during the day. No losses yet. In another week or so, they'll go outside during the day and in the unheated area overnight. Then they'll be planted in the unheated area mid May, apart form those (cooking tomatoes) destined for outside, who'll alternate between the unheated tunnel at night and outside during the day until the beginning of June.

Hope you've been able to keep up!

[dewwex]

in reply to Colin_M:

'Can anyone advise when would be ok to put them outside into an unheated greenhouse?'

Not sure what part of world you live in. But i live in south-east ireland.

Mid May at the earliest.

two weeks after your last possible night frost is a good bench mark. Alot of american gardening books advise this.

Speaking of moving tomatoes outside during day. if you finally planting in a tunnel or green house this is not neccessary.!

I actually grow my tomatoes on a heat mat or 'bio-green jumbo propagator' in my greenhouse from febuary. i would advise others to do so if thoughts moving plants around the place seems just too tedious! you will have better plants than house-breed plants anyhow!!