Tomatoe seedlings

[aggie]

I have just joined the Allotments 4 All  So this is my first contact. Can anyone give me some advice on my tomato seedlings, i have grown them in a propagator out of the 48 seeds i have 46 that have come up. They are about 3inch high but very spindly! how can i beef them up? ???

[aggie]

[kt.]

If they are "very spindly", this is usually because of excess heat / humidity causing them to grow too fast. Put them in a cooler place or remove the lid if they are in a propagator

[wattapain]

Aggie, I agree with ktl re heat/light etc, but I would also suggest potting them up into a deeper pot so that they are almost 'up to their neck'.
Then keep them warm, esp at night (covered if it's a really cold night), & hopefully they will recover. They need plenty of light though pref in a greenhouse.
Same thing happened to mine last year - i was away for a few weeks in March/ april, and asked my son  to look after them  ::).
Well, when I got back they were like yours, but after a few weeks of the above treatment, they were fine.
Hope this helps,
Terri

[Tee Gee]

Can anyone give me some advice on my tomato seedlings, i have grown them in a propagator out of the 48 seeds i have 46 that have come up.

Thats quite a good germination rate! Well done

Regarding your query;

It sounds like you are ready for pricking out into individual pots. This link has a couple of slide shows on it which is much easier than me trying to explain it here;

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Tomato/Tomatoes.htm

(roll your cursor over the bold print to find them)

[cleo]

Nothing more to add really-it`s pricking out time. Tell me-and where oh where do we find the space??

almost finished now though-just a few hundred of them ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

Don't prick them out unless they've got 2-3 true leaves, otherwise they'll be too small. Bury them right up to the leaves.

[tonybloke]

and welcome to the board, Aggie  ;)

[caroline7758]

Welcome, aggie. Just one thing to add, though it may be obvious- do you actually want/need/have room for 46 tomato plants?If not, don't waste compost potting them all up!

[saddad]

Welcome to the site Aggie... I'd transplant them deeper. Normally I'd wait for true leaves but if they're cramped better split them now. We have just done our 40 varieties for the sale...  ::)

[aggie]

 ::) Thank you all for the advice I will pot them on up to their necks when they have two/three leaves  on. I was quite surprised at how many germinated. Will be giving them to family and friends if they survive!

[beckydore]

.. and if you end up with too many for family and friends you could always freecycle a few. I've had so much off freecycle for my allotment its always good to be able to give something back that hasn't taken a lot of effort.

[thifasmom]

yes i freecycle a lot of my excess plants/ cuttings, they always go like hot cakes :D