Topic: Why have my Toms stopped growing?

[Two Choices]

After a slow start, my Gardeners delight got to about two inches and have simply stopped growing. The beef toms sown at the same time are now about 6 inches high. I think I overwatered early on as they went a bit yellow, so let them recover and gave them a little feed.
Should I feed them more or try and plant some new ones. They are in the greenhouse and have had overnight heat to keep the temperature between 5 and 10 degrees (which has always been successful in the past)

The other strange thing is that not one of my squash, marrow or courgettes germinated ( 20 plants in all!)

Any suggestions welcome TC  ???

[Ellen K]

My toms have been the same but i wonder if it is down to the cold weather and with a bit of warmth and sunshine they will pick up.

Lets hope so.

[Deb P]

What compost are you using?

[Ellen K]

Um ... mine are in Wickes MP, a bag left over from last year.

So I dont think it's that, not for me anyway.

[davyw1]

With the tomato plants if you have give them to much water the roots may have become clogged and cant breath. If they have been in the same compost to long it may have run out of nutrients there is only 4 to 6 weeks feed in compost. You could let them dry out and give them a bottom watering with a mix of Epsom Salts.
Using old compost is not a good thing as it does go off.

How was the squash, marrow and courgette seed planted flat or on the side, if planted on the flat then that could be the reason for none germination

[Two Choices]

Thanks for the comments. I'll  let them dry a bit then repot them in fresh compost. After initial sowing they were transplanted on into J Bowers bought this year.

As for the squash etc, seeds were planted on end. I actually dug one up today and it is just the same as when it was planted it no sign of shoots and not rotten. Been nearly two weeks now so thinking I might buy some new seed and try again.  Bet the moment I do that then everything will burst into life. Well I hope so!

[chriscross1966]

What sort of propagator are you using.... with conditions like they are all the cucurbits will need heat... Toms might well have just got a bit too cold and are having a sulk... though the watering/compost conjecture is pretty good too....

[davyw1]

When you say on end i would take that as the pointed ends up and down as aposed to being on their side as they should be planted

[Deb P]

I agree, Squash need bit of heat to germinate, so it might be too cold for them. Have you got an airing cupboard or somewhere warmer? Mine go in my propagator at its highest setting, they were up in 2 days.

[Ellen K]

Humm ... might go out and buy some posh compost, thank you.

[Digeroo]

I put squash seeds in damp kitchen roll put in a yogurt pol covered in plastic and put on the radiator, 'some like it hot'.  They also like light so if they do not germinate try putting them on a very sunny windowsill.  Oh forget not much sun at the moment.