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Growing Tomatoes

Tomato plants stopped growing

7 years ago

The tomato plants on the right were started the middle of February and they grew great for the 1st month, but then stopped growing and turned light green. The ones on the left were planted March 1st and are thriving well. They were grown in Miracle-Gro starting soil in a south facing window. Any thoughts or ideas to get them growing again? Thanks

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Comments (9)

digdirt2
7 years ago
The cotyledons are already fading which usually indicates over-watering. But you don't mention what they have been fed if anything. They very likely need to be fed as is always the case once they develop their first true leaves.

Dave
rgreen48
7 years ago
Along with what Dave mentions, what is the ambient temperature of the space? Unless it's a effect of light and photography, I think I see some purplish coloration. That can indicate lower than optimum temps.
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I'm learning that they probably need more heat and light than I am providing them right now. I've brought them inside, and put them right be the window. I don't have room for a big lighting system, but does anyone know whether there is a small lighting system one can buy with florescents? It would really need to be a maximum of 2 feet by 1 feet and not that high. It's a small space I have indoors before I move them out to the big patio area.
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I really don't understand why you need Christmas lights if you've got big fluorescents there. Just look at the wattage. That's how much heat/light you're already pumping into that area. Sorry, but did you ever tell us what temperature your garage is actually at? You say It is "damned cold". It would have to be pretty cold for those fluorescent bulbs not to do a decent job of keeping things warm IF they were suitably covered. The colder it is, the more cover you need. If it's "damned cold" you just need a damned good layer of insulation on top of the bulbs. Throw a sleeping bag over the setup, for goodness sake. The tomatoes will be fine underneath. as long as it doesn't get too hot. An adult human radiates about 100 watts of heat. Probably not too different than your fluorescent bulbs. So if a sleeping bag would keep you comfy in your garage, it'll keep anything under those bulbs comfy in your garage. That being said, I'd be very careful about throwing a lot of insulation over incandescent bulbs. We're talking fire hazard.
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jlaitar
Original Author
7 years ago
I usually set my heat at 68, but the sun usually warms the space into the 70s during the day. The sill that it sits on does touch the window, an while it doesn't freeze, we did gave a cold spell in mid March and the radiant cooling may have brought soil temps into the 50s.
Labradors
7 years ago
They need some fertilizer! They can get a bit chilly and that really stalls them which is why the ones that you planted later have overtaken them.....

Linda
stevie
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
yellowing usually only means two things.. time for fertilizer (nitrogen) or over watering. based on the use of the miracle starter i'll say it's the former. the mix is only good for the first 2-3 weeks of growth, they are past due for some fertilizer. i would fertilize them and transplant them a week later. the ones on the left seem to be almost due for transplanting into something bigger.. verify by letting the medium dry out a bit then gently popping one out the cube. if the cube starts to fall apart then there more room for growth, if it the root ball stays together than it's time to transplant.
digdirt2
7 years ago
Still no mention of what they have been fed, what nutrients they have received. The small amount of the slo release stuff in the MG isn't nearly sufficient.

Dave
jlaitar
Original Author
7 years ago
Oh sorry guys. I haven't fed them anything. What should I feed them with?
lgteacher
7 years ago
I know a horticulture teacher who recommends Osmocote for seedlings.
digdirt2
7 years ago
"What should I feed them with?"

A frequent question here so you can do a search and read through some of them for specific suggestions. But the common recommendation is any diluted to 1/4 to 1/2 strength water soluble, well balanced fertilizer. Miracle Grow is only one of many that meets that definition. How much you dilute it all depends on the fertilizer you choose to use. But when growing anything from seed you must use something.

Dave

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