Seedling tomatoes

by njoynit on March 14, 2006 02:44 AM

I got some seedling tomatoes.I actually ended up with quiet a few,but know my nephew will be more than glad to grow some.In just one pot a lil 4 pack cell I have 3 kinds growing(though at a loss as to which is which now...someone used the name tag to clean nails& when they broke the 1st 2 just tossed it in sink.I know the one from the 4 pack& it slices well and tastes good and kinda on the pinkish side& weighed 6 oz) I also have a big red thats from germany& surpriseingly I had a packet from 97 sprout.It has 7 sprouts& was not even stored peroperly,the peas did also& the soy beans.peas leaves look uneven like but is growing.

Questions...(I've only grown by accident B4)

When is the best time for seperateing seedlings?

how old a seedling will take full sun?

Is there a way to tell a cherry tomato from a regular tomato( cherry tomato is off floor at brookshires,1 is a 4 pack of maters store bought& the other was from fruit stand that just opened in Onalaska.they advertise that all are grown organically and are herilooms.I liked its taste.

A big red from germany(I can read the pack if someone speaks German)

and do you count days till blooming/fruiting as from true leaves or 1st sprout?

My lil spouting gallery looks quiet nice in kitchen window.Gets east lighting& been turning the tray a few times daily.They've had 1 FE misting.I actually didn't expect to have this good of luck.(My WS jugs are doing quiet well as well)

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I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!

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by Longy on March 14, 2006 03:11 AM

When is the best time for seperateing seedlings?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
When planting them out, at about 4 inches high should be OK. Give them a drink of liquid seaweed before and after to reduce transplant shock.

how old a seedling will take full sun?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
They can take it from the day they emerge, but if they haven't had any yet, start hardening them off by increasing the amount of sunlight by an hour each day.

and do you count days till blooming/fruiting as from true leaves or 1st sprout?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I imagine it's from when they first sprout, but it's an innaccurate estimate anyway as it depends on local conditions to a point.

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The secret is the soil.

by johnCT on March 14, 2006 03:37 AM

quote:
Originally posted by njoynit:
When is the best time for seperateing seedlings?

Do you mean potting-up? This can be done anytime once the true leaves sprout.

quote:
how old a seedling will take full sun?

Harden them off for at least a few days before setting in full sun, and then only gradually over a few days more.

quote:
Is there a way to tell a cherry tomato from a regular tomato

Not easily.

quote:
and do you count days till blooming/fruiting as from true leaves or 1st sprout?

Do you mean "Days To Maturity". Normally, this is counted from the day you plant outside.

Good luck! [muggs]

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John - Zone 6

by comfrey on March 15, 2006 12:06 AM

I usually separate my seedlings when they have there first set of true leaves...about 2-3 inches tall. And I agree with John on day to maturity, count from the time you set them outside. And on the how long before they can take full sun...I usually perfer to harden them for about a week, starting out for only a few hours the first day, and increasing the time in the sun daily until they don't wilt or droop, once they can stand in the sun without drooping it is time. If it is windy then provide a wind break for them in the beginning, as they are very tender and fragile, so wind will tear them up. One way to help harden them up indoors is to have fan blowing gently on your seedlings.

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by weezie13 on March 15, 2006 12:26 PM

quote:
Originally posted by njoynit:
Is there a way to tell a cherry tomato from a regular tomato

The only way I tell them apart, is when the flowers come out...

If there is like 10 flowers on either side of the fruit stalk,
*meaning about 10~20 possible fruits*
it's a cherry tomato..

If when it flowers.... there's like 5 flowers to a flower stem,
then it's usually some other variety...

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

by njoynit on March 16, 2006 12:55 AM

Thanks weezie that can help me.bunch of flowers is cherry less is regular.
My nephew will get some of these(so he'll not eat mine this year..he eats um like apples...like a few at a time..and always was saying..you need more plants.the others aren't ripe yet.)I'll get some potted up today & start out in a brightly lit area outside.maybe the top of garden shed(my seed area is cramped now)I actually have 2 other kinds to sow.a yellow pear& husk tomato.

I've been on a 2 day 'garden claw' beinge.I've garden clawed me 2 spots for growing my veggies in my duck area(my bug patrolers)

and if anyone knows this language......I'd like to know more on this tomato package has wrote on 'red giant tomat'.I traded someone from germany.they said it will produce well in the heat.has been grown in Iraq.
http://gdn.ru/bakl.php
my translater program does not know this language.says orgin/dialict unknown.

after seperateing cukes roots yesterday....I'll seperate the tomatoes now.

* * * *

I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!

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by weezie13 on March 16, 2006 01:15 AM

quote:
after seperateing cukes roots yesterday

Cucumbers resent [Razz]

their roots being handled...
*can make the plant sick later on,
and attrack cucumber beetles.*
Always direct seed if you can, you will get a
healthier plant in the long run.. [flower]

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

by johnCT on March 16, 2006 02:30 AM

quote:
Originally posted by njoynit:
I'd like to know more on this tomato package has wrote on 'red giant tomat'.I traded someone from germany.they said it will produce well in the heat.has been grown in Iraq.

I checked my SSE yearbook for "Red Giant" and it is listed there as 85 days, indet, regular Leaf, good yield of 6-12oz fruit. No mention of heat tolerance though.

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John - Zone 6

by njoynit on March 16, 2006 07:55 AM

I notice red giant has sturdy stems.

I got 42 seedlings potted up 1 6 pack cell and a 36 round cell.they are hanging out with my brug seedlings& will catch a breeze from the ceiling fan.the room drops to about 60s at night,but is warm durring the day,but do open the windows in there daily.I'll proably move them outdoors in 2 weeks.

* * * *

I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!

http://community.webshots.com/user/njoynit03
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http://photos.yahoo.com/njoynit03

by johnCT on March 16, 2006 09:23 PM

Please keep us updated on the red giants. Are you gonna save seeds? Can you post any pics?

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John - Zone 6

by njoynit on March 16, 2006 10:44 PM

Yes.i'll be saveing seeds.
I love posting photos.
I found my 2 gardening books I was looking for.it mentioned the seeds needed to fermint when drying.i'll have to look back through the book in the seed chapter.It mentioned the fermenting seed did something to the seed to prevent something.I'll come back to that one...

* * * *

I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!

http://community.webshots.com/user/njoynit03
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http://photos.yahoo.com/njoynit03

by johnCT on March 16, 2006 11:08 PM

Njoynit, the fermenting part breaks down the gel coating on the seed which prevents germination. Here's a link to one of the better tomato seed saving how-to's that I've seen. Its from Mike at Victory Seed.

http://www.victoryseeds.com/information/seedsave_tomato.html

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John - Zone 6

by peppereater on March 16, 2006 11:50 PM

My tomato seeds have started to germinate, and they sure look wimpy. I can't remember if they normally look so spindly the first couple of days.
My soil is a rough mix of dirt, peat and potting mix. Should they look fairly robust at emergence? They're not leggy.

* * * *

Dave
Even my growlights are getting restless!

by obywan59 on March 17, 2006 01:04 AM

With fresh good quality seed they're usually pretty robust, but if you keep seeds for several years, or maybe if the conditions weren't quite right when they were harvested and dried, the seeds won't have as much vigor. I noticed a few spindly tomato and pepper seedlings myself this year in seed I had been carrying over. Not in my fresh seed though.

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Terry

May the force be with you

by weezie13 on March 17, 2006 05:43 AM

John,
I love that set of instructions,
I have seen that and read that,
and it IS one of the best for info....
And the pictures are great..

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

by peppereater on March 17, 2006 12:16 PM

Terry...I may just be a little impatient...most of these seeds (72 in all!) were fresh seeds, not holdovers (though I've had good luck with those.)
These are just newly germinated, so I'm maybe expecting too much! I'll update in a day or 2!
I've grown from seed for several years...it's just that I thought the stems and cotyledons (sp?) were somewhat larger in the past.

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Dave
Even my growlights are getting restless!

by johnCT on March 17, 2006 08:52 PM

Probably just over-eager eh Dave? [Big Grin]

Post some pics if you have a chance.

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John - Zone 6

by njoynit on March 17, 2006 09:43 PM

Well my book'The basic book of organic gardening'By Robert Rodale was printed in 1971.I'd have to re-read where ever I was reading to see what it said.
I didn't clean those seeds [lala]

I kinda scraped them off the plate into some soil& ran a lil boiling water over it to wet it down& sterilize it.The cherry ones would have been squeezed outta my cherry tomato into the empty cell& boiled water as well. Guess ya see why I was [shocked]

they sprouted(and still sprouting.I put the dirt back in pot after thinning seeds out& potting)

So john.what ya know about homestead?While shopping in walmart.An older gentleman told me homestead will preform well here.He said it can take the heat& will keep produceing when its still real hot.he mentioned the lower portion of the plant useually yellows up,but don't hurt production any & ironically he's grown red giant before He said I need to surround it with onions.He grew up on red giant& bloody butcher.

* * * *

I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!

http://community.webshots.com/user/njoynit03
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by johnCT on March 17, 2006 09:59 PM

quote:
Originally posted by njoynit:

So john.what ya know about homestead?

Unfortunately only what I can read at the more reputable seed sites like Victory....

Homestead 24 - 80 days, determinate — The fruit set under a wide range of conditions, making it popular the world over. The plants are large with heavy foliage and produce seven to eight ounce red fruits that are meaty, firm, and consistently uniform. Released in 1956 by the Asgrow Seed Co., New Haven, Connecticut.

Sounds like that man knew what he was talking about.

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John - Zone 6

by peppereater on March 18, 2006 07:01 AM

John, is that, "Homestead 24," or "24-80 days?"
I'm assuming it's a hybrid, number 24. Not saying you were vague there, just that when I first read that I thought, "Wow, now that IS a versatile tomato!" [Big Grin]

I need my head examined. [Frown]

* * * *

Dave
Even my growlights are getting restless!

by johnCT on March 19, 2006 10:19 AM

LOL, its homestead 24. No actually, its a stabilized hybrid if I remember correctly. Imagine the person that patents a 24 DTM tomato! [shocked]

That would be worth some money!

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John - Zone 6

by comfrey on March 20, 2006 09:28 AM

These are Brandywine seedlings(they have a potato type leaf), as you can see the bigger ones are ready to be separated into their own pots.

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by weezie13 on March 20, 2006 10:08 AM

What do the next set of leaves look like?
A regular tomato leaf????????

Very curious!!

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

by comfrey on March 20, 2006 10:14 AM

No all of the leaves are pototoe looking leaves. Here is a picture from last year of bigger seedlings

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by weezie13 on March 20, 2006 12:04 PM

That is very cool..

Do they ever get leaves that look like a regular/common tomato leaf?????

I have never seen them before...

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

by comfrey on March 20, 2006 12:18 PM

Out of 50 I grew last year...2 of them had regular tomato type leaves...This was commerical seed, So I had assumed that it was some sort of other tomato seed that got mixed in by mistake and I discarded those seedlings. So far the first batch have all been true to the potato leave, and I believe the second batch will also, But this is saved seed from my own plants and I grew no other tomato types. But someone mentioned something about a Brandywine variety with a tomato type leaf.

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by johnCT on March 20, 2006 10:16 PM

Great looking seedlings Comfrey! Yes, the "True" Brandywine is a PL plant with pink fruit. Yellow and OTV Brandies are also PL. The "Real" Red Brandywine is a regular(RL) leaf plant.

Weezie, Welcome to the world OP Tomatoes, lol.

quote:
Originally posted by weezie13:

Do they ever get leaves that look like a regular/common tomato leaf?????

No, lol, it is a specific trait of some tomato plants. 500 or so varieties of PL tomatoes I believe.

* * * *
John - Zone 6

by weezie13 on March 20, 2006 10:42 PM

quote:
Weezie, Welcome to the world OP Tomatoes, lol.

It looks like I'm going to have to get out of the "box" aren't I????

Juliana's been tryin' to get me to come over to
"The Heirloom Side"..... I am swayin' reallllllly bad here... [grin]

Bigboy has sent me seeds, a couple of years ago..
and I just found what's left, and I think I will try to do those again..

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

by johnCT on March 20, 2006 11:04 PM

LOL, I don't think you'll be dissapointed Weezie.

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John - Zone 6

by comfrey on March 21, 2006 01:35 AM

I like heirloom tomatoes myself...I just don't have the space to grow as many as I would like, since I feel the need to save seeds, I want to make sure that they are as pure as possible. I am growing 5 other types of tomatoes this year, but only a couple of plants of the other varities and they will not be in the main garden, I plan to place them all around in different areas, so the chance of cross pollination will be slim. I'm one of those seed savers from way back [Big Grin]

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by njoynit on March 21, 2006 06:07 AM

I may just turn into a tomato freak my summers end. [thinker]

I still got seeds popping in the pots I thinned& transplanted(of which a few have drooped,but thats fine.I got more popping..lol)
I think I will try the Homestead& hopefully when return to wally-world I can find one still about. But as to BIG......My early girls topped 10 ft last yr...so will homestead top that?

* * * *

I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!

http://community.webshots.com/user/njoynit03
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http://photos.yahoo.com/njoynit03

by comfrey on March 21, 2006 12:09 PM

I grew the Homestead variety years ago and it was a very heavy producer...The plants themselves were not that tall or tidy looking, but did continue to put fruit on the entire summer.

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by johnCT on March 21, 2006 08:46 PM

Homestead is a determinate variety Njoynit.

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John - Zone 6

by njoynit on March 22, 2006 08:50 PM

I hope they still got it.I'd probably find out sooner If when folks round here went to town....I go with them.I choose fishing yesterday&I'm bout ready to fish again.
I noticed when covering plants yesterday that early girl is forming 2

I bought early girl& better boy as larger plants.

* * * *

I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!

http://community.webshots.com/user/njoynit03
http://community.webshots.com/user/njoynit
http://photos.yahoo.com/njoynit03

by peppereater on March 23, 2006 02:25 AM

John..."Homestead is a determinate variety Njoynit." Comfrey said hers produced all summer...I thought determinates only produced for a certain period of time. Am I wrong about that?

* * * *

Dave
Even my growlights are getting restless!

by johnCT on March 23, 2006 04:19 AM

quote:
Originally posted by peppereater:
John..."Homestead is a determinate variety Njoynit." Comfrey said hers produced all summer...I thought determinates only produced for a certain period of time. Am I wrong about that?

Good catch Dave! That's right about determinates. That'll teach me to get info from one place. I just checked about a half-dozen sites and Homestead or Homestead 24 is listed as Det, Indet, and Semi-Det! [Roll Eyes]

I'll have to check on that one.

* * * *
John - Zone 6

by johnCT on March 24, 2006 08:46 PM

OK, well as best I've learned, all homestead varieties are determinates and determinates, in general, ripen their fruit over the course of a month or so give or take. So I guess I would have to question them producing all summer. You Da Man Dave! I have so much to learn.

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John - Zone 6

by njoynit on March 24, 2006 10:05 PM

Determinate= bushy,ripens all fruit over several weeks,less space,less support.
InDeterminate=vinelike,ripens over months,gives more fruit needs more space

I bought a 6 pack of homestead#24 yesterday.The guy at feedstore said they'll kick um out all season.he also wrote me a list of what grows well in our heat& still produces well.I had a choice of homestead FA,but said #24 is better choice here& that brandywine don't do well here,but If I had to grow it should start it in July.

Heatwave
Neptune
Ozark pink
Solar Set
Sun Chaser
Sun leaper
Sun Master
Paste
Viva Italia
Cherry
Sungold
Heriloom
Arkansas travler

Also morgage lifter&Burpee supersteak will do well but are not sold in area& can be grown from seed.

I was surprised.The feedstroe actually gets their plants from'totally tomatos' in WI.Walmart here uses 'bonnies' & Meldas in town she grows hers from seed& always sells out fast.

My early girl last year did keep putting out& even survived a hurricane,though the stakes shifted& leaned.Celebirty still sucked last year.I love they way they taste,but that lable lies(main crop-mid season)It shuts down in june& was oct 12th till got another off it.
This year will be MUCH better.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/njoynit/duckieeggpaint.gif

* * * *

I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!

http://community.webshots.com/user/njoynit03
http://community.webshots.com/user/njoynit
http://photos.yahoo.com/njoynit03

by weezie13 on March 24, 2006 11:23 PM

Njoynit,
Just outta curiousity, are your tomatoes in the
sunshine??
Maybe try the Celeb's shade in the noon time sun...then only receiving just morning and late afternoon sun.. [dunno]

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

by Rosepetal on March 25, 2006 02:33 AM

Hi John
I've been reading your tomato posts here and have a question for you. I'm new to the world of seedlings and greenhouses, but find myself doing the job this year. I seeded Tiny Tims (cherry tomatoes) and they sprouted faster then I tho't they would. When do I transplant them into 3" pots? How tall can I let them grow before transplanting?

I live in a zone 3 area and it is still too cold to do anything outside. I do have a greenhouse that I will be using later, but for now my seedlings are under growing lights in my house. I may even have to transplant the tomatoes in the house for I don't want to fire up the greenhouse just for them.

I have started quite a number of seeds including vegetables and lots of flowers. You have no idea the excitment I felt when they started coming thro'. Thou' the job is new to me I will love it.

I've been find this forum wonderfully helpful. Glad its here.

* * * *

For this "New Year" help me to be kinder and more loving to all around me, I pray.

by johnCT on March 25, 2006 03:44 AM

It's a lot of fun rosepetal, but a lot of work just the same. This is my first year sowing tomato seed myself also, but as I understand it, they can be potted up safely anytime they get their true leaves. The first two "leaves" are actually not even leaves at all. They're called cotyledons and provide the seedling's nourishment until the sprout their true leaves and are able to photosynthesize their own food. Here is a pic from another website poster's site. The seedling has only cotyledons on the left and the true leaves are on the right(w/ cotyledons still intact).

Hope that helped.

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John - Zone 6

by njoynit on March 25, 2006 04:40 AM

Where they grew last year.yes full sun.maybe gets a break in the morning(sun rises over trees)about 8ish.Celebirty had a bit of orange construction fenceing filtering some of the morning sun as was the 1st in row.
celebirtys 1st yr it did get some shade in afternoon.mimosa shade.can't tell it gave much differance.Feed store thiks I should try again& add a lil lime to soil.I'm going elsewhere tomato wise(but do understand are other strains of celibirty)
where they are currently at.They get full sun.I think as spring goes on the one bed beside seeding area will get shade in afternoon but mostly one end of bed.I'm also tempted to plant 4 in my butterfly bed on one side.
Red giant has true leaves.was WS 2/10
a few seedlings have true leaves.some of the ones transplanted didn't care for it,but leaves places for the others sprouting.

I'm hopeing my ducks don't eat my tomatos.They love tomatos.

* * * *

I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!

http://community.webshots.com/user/njoynit03
http://community.webshots.com/user/njoynit
http://photos.yahoo.com/njoynit03

by Rosepetal on March 25, 2006 05:28 AM

Thanks John that helps. I now see that my seedlings are not that far yet so I still have a bit of time.
They're a deep rich green color, which tells me they're healthy. Thanks for the info'. Happy planting!!! [flower]

* * * *

For this "New Year" help me to be kinder and more loving to all around me, I pray.

The Garden Helper

Gardening Reference » Gardening in 2006