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Arizona Gardening

tomato seedlings leaves turing yellow

15 years ago

My seedlings seem to be growing very slow. I did move them into 3" jiffy pots when they where about 2 inches tall.

now it seems they have slowed down their growth and the leaves (seed leaves) are turning yellow.

I check the web some people said it could be from over watering. I held back the watering and still yellow leaves. Some have began to fall off.

I am now thinking it is a deficiency in the soil. ( when I replanted them in jiffy pots I just used the seed starting soil). do you think this could be it?

I have the plants in direct sunlight on the window sill do you think they are getting too hot? the house is around 70-76 during the day and drops to 70 or 68 at night.

Thanks in advance.

Comments (4)

petzold6596
15 years ago
It sounds like you have a nutrient problem. Mix a 1/4th strength fertilizer solution and water the plants once a week with it. The current yellow leave will more than likely not survive but the new ones will be green and lively. In the future you should begin this procedure after the second true leaves BEGIN to appear.
butcher_boy
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the tip. I tried posting a response earlier but I guess it didn't go through. The only fertilizer I found was tomato plant food (miracle-gro) I will try the method you said to use. and thanks for the great info.
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The seed leaves usually will stay green for a long time if soil moisture is maintained at the right level, not too wet, not too dry. The seed leaves on mine yellowed when I let the soil (soiless seed starting mix actually) get too dry for a day or so. It's one sign of stress. I wonder if your soil is tightly packed. Loose is better. Loose soil allows air for the roots, which is important. Go to the Hot Pepper Forum for an interesting thread on hydrogen peroxide. It's a way of oxygenating the soil. Jim Here is a link that might be useful: Hydrogen Peroxide
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It's time to get them out of those Dixie cups and into the garden. They have run out of room in that small amount of "soil" and are unable to uptake sufficient nutrients. With plants that large, in that small of space, it is difficult to maintain proper watering. They are begging to be set free.
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95% of the time yellowing of leaves on seedlings is due to over-watering. Cut your watering in half. You can transplant them into new, bigger containers with a mild fertilizer charge in the new mix if you can't plant them in the garden now. The yellow leaves will die and fall off but the new growth should be ok. Dave
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laccanvas
15 years ago
I read your post... my seedlings leaves are turning yellow too. I have them in slow release fertilizing potting soil. All of my 100 other seedlings I'm growing are doing great, except for my "delicious" variety tomatoes and "Roma" seedlings. They are growing..but the leaves are really yellow. Is this normal?
petzold6596
15 years ago
No. Fertilize as I outline above. Those pre-fertilized potting soils are not uniformly mixed before packaging, that is why I don't buy them. I'd rather be in control rather relying on some other person.

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