Hey heres a question... I notice you put the newly sprouted seedlings in a taller cup then nearly fill the dirt up to the leaves.. is that what Im supose to do? or is it just 'your way' of doing things? What does it do for the plant? Maybe im doing something wrong This is the first year im doing seeds (that is actually working). Thanks
It's my way of doing things...but there is a reason. In order to understand it, you need to know a little bit about how the tom works underground. ***1) Warmth...2) feeding...3) water uptake are for me the three essential factors of tomato survival and production. On the rootsystem of toms, the upper roots near the surface, are the ones that take-up "food". The deeper ones are the ones that take up water,which is so essential to the fruit. As tomatos are basically a 'water fruit', you just have to bite into one to know what I mean. ah ha ha. Toms need warmth. Warmth on the leaves, on the soil and on the roots. Warmth is more important than sunlight, actually. Now with the basics in mind, I will next tell you that I plant my toms horizontally instead of vertically so that it has more top feeding roots and that it's roots are nore evenly exposed to heat. So finally, to come to the answer to your question: I pot them on each time they grow too tall, and bury them to the top two leaves each time (removing all other leaves on larger seedlings--not the first time I transplant). Why do I do this? Because the old stems which wind-up underground will form and produce ever more roots along it's length. I like to let my plantlets grow long and lanky to this end. Finally I plant them in a quart milk or juice carton as the last stage before they are put into the ground for good. You can see something of this on my website page: http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoorn ... age22.html Don't think that what you are doing is wrong...there is always more than one way to do something, you just have to find or develop a way that YOU like then stick with what is successful for you. I hope that this didn't sound too acedemic, I was just trying to be clear. Good luck on your toms.
Thanks I sort of understand. I thought though that planting the to deeply will choke out the plant. Thats how come i didnt really understand but I actually am going to do some more transplanting again and try this
Well StarLite, I think this method would indeed run the chance of choking-out some types of plants, but it works with toms. If you are unclear on some aspects of that posting, ask me about it and I will try to help. Did the pictures on that website link help make it any clearer?
yep and I am trying out your /the website idea on a few of my tomato and a couple tomatillo plants just to say i tried. I'll see in the near future! Thanks for the idea though. Im glad ya posted your pics !
Well miss... good luck wiuth ALL ypour toms. BTW...that's a gorgeous rose on your avatar. I can almost smell it.
So far the plants are doing fine I havent killed them yet LOL. They seem happy in their new homes all 'snug' (; And thank you for the rose compliment. its my favorite "New Years" rose. I got it so my hubby would have his own flower in the garden. (hes not a flower person) but his fav color is orange for OSU team in sports (; Its the best rose i have!
Orange is our national colour and the colour of our monarchy (the house of Orange), but aside from that I just find it a lovely colour for garden flowers. That one of yours seems so crisp and fresh. Does it have a fragrance? I'll bet your plants are doing just fine. Don't forget to take "update fotos" from time to time, ok?
Wow i didnt know your national color was orange Thats neat. Thanks for sharing that info! The rose had a nice fragrance. Its a little stronger than mild. The color stays for a while but then fades to a pinkish color and then whiter color. I cant find much info on the particular name of this rose though. Ill take some update pix tomorrow. I did more transplanting today so they are sad lol.
Glad to see your post, Sjoerd. I am getting hungry just thinking about your tomatoes . . . and Glendann's beans, squash, and corn . . . we are supposed to have a cold snap at the first of next week, so I am waiting a little longer . . .
