Starting tomatoes indoors from seed

[Michael Wise]

I DO want to pot these up once more.

They are tall enough that a too big a breeze has the leverage to knock their solo cups over.

Right now, the cotyledons are shriveling, but are still there.

Do I cut them off, too, when I bury the plants deeper? I know it is OK to cut off regular limbs, but wasn't sure about these. I was really expecting them to be gone by now.

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[MorpheusPA]

Apparently the cotyledons are sturdy on those. Technically speaking, they absolutely should not ever be cut off until they drop of their own accord.

Realistically speaking, your plants are already starting to set bloom and don't need the cotyledons any longer. Feel free to get rid of them. I've damaged cotyledon leaves when transplanting sprouts (for bag-started seeds, or moving sprouts to a cell that didn't have any). The plant still does fine, if a little slower than the others.

One minor thing--transplanting is a stress to be avoided if possible. Growth temporarily stops, roots shock, and any root exposed to air and light immediately ceases development. I don't see that it'll be an issue on your plants, and the growth stoppage shouldn't be more than a day or so.

However, if you can avoid it, repotting is always to be avoided.

One trick I use is to put the cups into the humidity dome that came with my 1020 trays. Each cup stabilizes the next, and the lip of the tray stabilizes the edges (the dome being about four inches tall). It also makes them easier to carry.

A box like they use to move soup cans in the store would also work, though the sides might be a bit short at about 2" to hold the edge cups.

[Michael Wise]

Got 'em potted up.

I would have liked to made some kind of contraption to hold them up, but it would have been huge to give the plants any kind of space from one another.

They got knocked over and tangled up twice. I don't know how long they were laid over the first time, though. Hopefully they aren't too beat up.

Those plants are so dang grabby, it was hell trying to separate them when they tangled up together after falling.

Here is a pic of the roots. I don't know what bound up looks like, but I'm sure they'll benefit a little from the extra breathing room.

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp32 ... fbf48e.jpg

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[MorpheusPA]

That's what I'd call somewhat tight, but not yet rootbound. They would have been rootbound in seven days or less. Probably less.

[Michael Wise]

Got 'em worked up to most of the work day. They've actually been OK going a little faster than the hour each day. I've been able to watch then closely, and didn't see any problems.

Working on sun now. They've sat a few hours in direct sun. Haven't really had that much sun to acclimate them to with this weather.

I think I'll be able to take them home and out from the lights for good by the end of the week. Weather permitting.

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[Michael Wise]

Big boy on the left, SS100 on the right.

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp32 ... f4da79.jpg

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[MorpheusPA]

Now those are BIG. Lanky, a bit, but big, and the lanky thing'll correct when they're planted out. My petunia might have 1/20th that much mass. And those are the oldest and largest at the moment, with some of the newer zinnia rapidly surpassing them.

You're coming up on your last frost date, yes?

[Michael Wise]

Very close.

This current cold snap we've had will end on Friday. The commercial I just saw for the 10:00 news just teases of a warm up and then another cooling. I'll have to wait until 10:00, which I'm sure is what the "tease" was trying to get me to do.

Work is slow, so I'm gonna get these things into as much sun as possible without screwing them up.

I really think they can handle more than I'm throwing at them, but just as soon as I rush things, i'll kill 'em.

Pretty sure that TW's tax day transplant is going to be dead on for my area, though.

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[GaryCinChicago]

I see a 'mater sandwich on your horizon, Mike!

[MorpheusPA]

Very close.

This current cold snap we've had will end on Friday. The commercial I just saw for the 10:00 news just teases of a warm up and then another cooling. I'll have to wait until 10:00, which I'm sure is what the "tease" was trying to get me to do.

Exactly. When they tease me ("Will there be a warm up in our future? Watch Glenn 'Hurricane' Schwartz at 11 PM to find out!") I respond by bringing up the weather online. Don't tease me. I hate that.

Your forecast online has you reaching lows of fifty by Friday, highs of 75-ish. For me, that's May and time to plant out. For you, I'm sure a cold snap is still possible; it's early.

Work is slow, so I'm gonna get these things into as much sun as possible without screwing them up.

I really think they can handle more than I'm throwing at them, but just as soon as I rush things, i'll kill 'em.

Well, I'm glad you have time to deal with them, but sorry work is slow.

Yes, a lot of people adjust their plants by simply putting them outside in the shade for the day, bringing 'em in at night, and slowly shifting them into more sun day by day. The plants tend to do fine. Some don't bring them in unless there's a frost forecast and just cover them to protect them a bit.

I've always been more cautious, but with the numbers I've got now I may not be able to be.

Pretty sure that TW's tax day transplant is going to be dead on for my area, though.

18 days to go, then. Those ginourmous buckets will be more than fine until then. The cups would have done.

[Michael Wise]

HAHAHA!!! Yeah, they are a little much.

I'll sleep better knowing they are able to stretch out in those buckets, though.

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[MorpheusPA]

Better safe than sorry! My petunias will have to deal with the little cups as I don't have the room to replant them any longer, but that should be fine. A little pot-binding won't be an issue, and we're six weeks or less from planting out (earlier if I had to as petunias are half-hardy anyway). Post transplant, they started to grow pretty fast again, now overflowing the cups and throwing five or six runners. I'll pinch eventually.

Stretch? I could grow cherry tomatoes in those buckets.

[Michael Wise]

Since the re-pot, I have noticed some roots peeking through the dirt.

When I watered them, I soaked em good so there wasn't just water at the top.

Is this something I need to look into? Or should I just take heart that they have good strong roots that are healthy and exploring?

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[MorpheusPA]

Up top, through the bottom holes, or what? Up top is odd, usually it's exposed root caused by soil shifting. Those roots aren't very significant to you, though, as they'll usually die.

Out the bottom is normal as they grow on--a few of my plants are already doing that. Optimally, you just keep those roots damp down there and be happy they're happy.

[Michael Wise]

What's a question without photo reference?

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp32 ... ec253a.jpg

They are across the surface.

I can see some on every plant. Some close to the stem, some all the way at the pot's edge.

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[MorpheusPA]

Big root! Oh, that's your finger.

Air roots like that don't tend to survive, but don't worry about them. When exposed to light and air, the root tends to severely slow growth, but re-branch below the soil surface one or more times and grow downward correctly. Think of it as a questing finger to see where the soil surface is. It doesn't mean they're root bound, those will tend to grow out of the bottom of the pot in large numbers.

Some air roots will get woodier and survive just fine. On plants, I leave them. On trees, I try to clip them before they become a problem. Here, I'd leave it as it's not hurting anybody.

[Michael Wise]

Cool! Thanks!

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[GaryCinChicago]

What's a question without photo reference?

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp32 ... ec253a.jpg

They are across the surface.

I can see some on every plant. Some close to the stem, some all the way at the pot's edge.

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Perfectly normal.
That's just a new root up on the stem, above the root ball.
That is why you bury tomatoes deep when you transplant it (or pot up).

[Michael Wise]

Haven't updated in a few days. No pics, but rest assured I'll get some when I get home.

They are 100%, full sun now. Even through 80 degree days, so I'd say they are successfully hardened.

I did have to get them out of the wind yesterday and today. Yesterday had some 30 mph gust, and the storm today produced some 50-60 mph gust. Didn't feel like risking that.

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[MorpheusPA]

Watching one's tomato plants head for Oz is not fun, no.

No photos? Picture me intensely disappointed at the lack of pictures...

You're pretty close to planting, yes? I'm still six weeks out...

From here, http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals ... tes/AR.pdf the last frost date in Little Rock (using the 10% chance of temperatures going under 36 model) is April 16th. I'd probably wait until the twentieth, but I tend to be extremely cautious about frosts.