Are you starting from seed indoors?

[Anonymous]

If so, what do they look like now?

I've got some tomatoes coming up, but nothing else yet, and since this is my first year trying to start from seed I'm not sure what they should look like. Mine are tiny (obviously, they just broke through), but they seem kind of tall relative to how young they are. I'm nervous about them getting too "leggy" and not transplanting well, but not entirely sure what I can do to prevent that.

[Anonymous]

I am, but haven't started my seeds yet. Will this weekend. Tomatoes always look a little long and leggy when they first come up, but what they need now is light. Do you have them under grow lights, or are they in a window? If they are in a window, and its your brightest window, there isn't much you can do. If they are under grow lights, move the tray up (or the light down) so the lights are just an inch or two from the tops of the plants, and then move the lights/tray as the seedlings grow. You still have maybe 5 weeks before these guys can go outside full time.

[Anonymous]

They're currently in a window, but I bought lights for them. I just have to figure out how to rig it up so the lights can be very close to the tops of the trays -- I don't have the whole integrated setup (shelving/lighting unit). This weekend I guess I'll have to be MacGyver.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We're doing this for the first time this year too, and I was wondering the same thing. Our might be a week or two ahead of yours though, and seem to be more proportional and less "leggy" now.

We're doing what the PP suggested WRT the lights. We also take them outside on nice days like yesterday.

[Anonymous]

Tomatoes look great. Celery, onions, cabbage, leeks and broccoli all look "ok". Been growing with lights for about 1 month.

[Anonymous]

I just started mine a few days ago, under lights. Curious when they will start sprouting, this is my first year doing it.

[Anonymous]

Remember the last day of frost is mother's day around here. don't transplant too early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just started mine a few days ago, under lights. Curious when they will start sprouting, this is my first year doing it.

Your seed package should tell you the average days to germination; it varies by seed type. Some are as fast as 10 days, others can take 30.

[Anonymous]

Related question -- On these starter trays with the peat plugs, to "transplant" do you just remove the plug and stick it in the ground?

[Anonymous]

First time here too, we started seeds in January, various types of peppers, one type of eggplants, cabbage, and artichokes. they are doing great, peppers and eggplants have already four leaves. cabbage should be transplanted but we are leaving for spring break it will have to wait (we still need to put soil in the new raised beds). last Sunday we planted three different types of tomatoes and they all sprouted like crazy, some of them are half an inch or more. we have them in the 50 little jiffy pots, I hope they are not too small. we have the tomato by a window and they are all bending toward the light. hopefully they will grow ok, not much we can do until we come back. we are very excited, this is our kids' project. let's see what happens when we transplant outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First time here too, we started seeds in January, various types of peppers, one type of eggplants, cabbage, and artichokes. they are doing great, peppers and eggplants have already four leaves. cabbage should be transplanted but we are leaving for spring break it will have to wait (we still need to put soil in the new raised beds). last Sunday we planted three different types of tomatoes and they all sprouted like crazy, some of them are half an inch or more. we have them in the 50 little jiffy pots, I hope they are not too small. we have the tomato by a window and they are all bending toward the light. hopefully they will grow ok, not much we can do until we come back. we are very excited, this is our kids' project. let's see what happens when we transplant outside.

If they are bending towards light your window is insufficient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Related question -- On these starter trays with the peat plugs, to "transplant" do you just remove the plug and stick it in the ground?

Yes, just make sure to water them so they don't dry out. Also, be careful you don't damage the roots when you pull it out.