Have never planted much but I LOVE gardening so I figured I'd be over zealous this year and started some veggie seeds inside. I live in zone 5b (southern WI) and have some concerns I was hoping to get feedback on. I just planted my red cherry tomatoes on the 17th. The seed packet says they should sprout in 7-15 days... well it's 5 days later and they have all come up. They look skinny and the stems are long.. like almost 3 inches with the cotyledons at the top. This doesn't look like any of the pictures I've seen so I think I've done something wrong :( I used a seed starter mix soil blend and they are in containers with a plastic dome on top. At the plant store they told me that tomatoes like "warm" and to use a heating pad... so I did. I bought a "germinating heating pad." Since I've never done this before, I asked a ton of questions and was advised to not water them with tons of water but to spritz them with water- which I do once a day. I'm not sure if what is happening is okay, or if something is going terribly wrong. Am I over-watering them? Are they not getting enough light? (they're in a window) Is the heating pad causing this? Should I take the plastic domes off? Do I need to start over? HELP!!! I am determined and motivated to make this work :)

Regarding the watering issue, I've had real good luck container growing tomatoes and bell peppers by taking two plastic soda bottles per each - the larger ones they sell at my local quick stop, believe they are 20 ounces. The first bottle, using a pretty small drill bit, I drilled holes in the cap and neck of this bottle. Cut the bottom off of both bottles with the second one cut mostly down to a lip and the neck. Place this second bottle over the open bottom of the first and fasten in place. I used duct tape. With the neck with holes down in the dirt, you can unscrew the cap and fill the bottle with water. I usually let this drain out and wait until I can stick my damp finger in the soil and find it comes out with dry soil stuck to it before refilling. I got this idea from something my grandfather did, which was to use full 2 liter bottles in his garden near each planting of tomato, bell pepper, watermelon, etc.

Like MTO, I am not a container expert by any means, but I have grown some plants in containers, so here is some additoinal information: Container plants will need watering more often than tomatoes in the ground, probably daily or more often in times of high temperatures. Dig down with your finger about 3-4", is the growing medium wet, dry, or just right? If it is wet, don't water, if dry then water. If it is just right, check again the next day. If the medium is very dry, normal watering may have no effect on it, the water will just run off the top and down the sides of the container then out the drainage hole(s). In that case a slower delivery method is needed to allow the growing medium to absorb the water. That is the principle behind those glass watering globes you see advertised. You can slow the delivery down by taking a large plastic container (a gallon milk jug, or even a 2-liter bottle, you'd just have to repeat more with a smaller container) and make a very small hole in the bottom so that it just drips and place it in your planter and fill it up. Repeat as needed until the growing medium is thoroughly moistened throughout the container. Mulching the top of your container with compost, straw, hay, rotted leaves, grass clippings, even shredded paper or sheets of paper or cardboard helps maintain a consistent moisture level. Plants that are grown in any kind of container will need feeding more often than plants that are grown in the ground because each time they are watered, the water run off carries away vital nutrients. Many container growers will use a dilute solution of a liquid fertilizer every week or two depending on the condition of the plant. You can get more information on growing in containers over in the container forum. Betsy Here is a link that might be useful: Container Gardening Forum

Thanks for the advice. This is rather a late update but I just wanted to say that soon after I posted this, I potted the tomato in a large container and kept it outside on my apt balcony. The white spots quickly went away on their own. I guess it just needed sunshine and better air circulation!