tomato seedlings,new roots

[isbister]

Am I correct in thinking that when pricking out tomato seedlings you can set them a little deeper in their new pots as they'll throw out new roots from the stem. My seedlings got a little leggy you see...

[isbister]

[okra]

I always do and they grow on well

[tim]

Up to within 1/4" of their seed leaves.

[machman5]

I've always buried mine right up to the true leaves  :D

I have been told you can go deeper if you like because it's the little hairs in the stem, they root.  Never gone too far though, bit of a chicken!

I don't do it though until they are little plants 3 or 4" high, not sure if they can cope with this if they're too young.

Good luck!
Donna

[Jeannine]

You can go very deep, in fact if your toms are very leggy you can trench plant them

Dig a trench, plant the plant at one end, lay the plant along the trench  leaving the top  several inches sticking up at the far end, fill in the trench. The plant will be sideways but will right itself in a few days.The plant will grow new roots all along it's stem underground giving a well rooted plant. I have done this with plants 18 inches tall, burying a foot of it. If planting in a pot, just bury deep.

It really does work...honest.

XX Jeannine

[Trevor_D]

Every time you pot them on, plant them a little deeper. Make's 'em sturdier, too.

[MrsKP]

some of my "sown in a milk bottle" varieties are very tall already and I don't have pots deep enough to pot them up to their necks cept the black buckets which will be their final homes anyway. 

Would I get away with repotting them in those now (if I bring them in each night) ?  If sow, then what potting medium should I use ?

I can't trench them as they're not going in a border but staying in the black bucket ring culture pots.

Other than the fact that some are a foot tall, they look healthy enough to me.

thanks muchly as always.

[tim]

True leaves, Machman? I'm just quoting the grower's advice.

[Trevor_D]

Do you mean "very tall" as in "leggy"?

If so, it sounds as if they haven't got enough light. Try moving them? Perhaps even somewhere a bit cooler? It's all a juggling act at this time of year, especially with the weather being unseasonally warm.

[MrsKP]

I'll take some pics and post later Trevor_D.  Am supposed to be getting ready for work just now lol.

They were left home alone for a week and didn't get a whole lot of sun as I didn't want them to dry out while I was away.  They were craning their poor wee necks when I got back. 

I've had them out in the g/h during the day ever since to try and minimise the stretch.  It's only one or two varieties, others have stayed nice and stocky.

I'll get them to put on their make-up, brush their hair and will take their photographs tonight ! 

;D

[machman5]

I think that's what they are called Tim, I mean the first leaves after the seed ones :D  But anyhow, going by what Jeannine has said, they can go in to any depth!  Still not going to be that brave though! ;D
Donna

[MrsKP]

Trevor_D, I forgot to post my leggy seedlings until now.

Poor wee souls.

[Trevor_D]

Well, they do look as if they need potting on, don't they? And probably a bit of support. There shouldn't really be that much distance between the leaf nodes.

If they are destined for the GH, I'd plant them out now; if outside then pot them on and gradually harden them off. Do they really live in your living room next to a radiator, or was that just to have their photos taken? If so, too warm and not enough light. I've had mine go leggy just putting them in the GH but under the bench, and the poor things struggled to get to the light.

When did you sow the seed? Perhaps you ought to delay it by a couple of weeks next year?

Anyway, that's my two pennorth. What do the real experts think?

[MrsKP]

Oh I definitely sowed them far too early.   ;D

That radiator has always been off btw, even in mid-winter, as that's the nursery.

I suppose if I ever had anyone to stay, I might turn it on.  Bet it wouldn't work if I did !   ;D

I'm sort of got a bit more organised over the past few days, so I will get them in the buckets tomorrow, leave them in the g/h with fleece at the ready and let them take their chances.   ;D

Going away and leaving them with too little light did them no favours at all.  The others don't seem to have suffered so much.

Cheers for the kind advice though.  What's one or two trusses between friends.

;D