Too many tomatos sprouted

They say Columbus took a chance and see what he found, so I'm gonna take a chance.

The problem is 18 varieties of tomatos. I needed 2 viable plants of each for myself and my son. Since some of my seed was 2 old, I planted 6 - 7 seeds of each. Well, they all sprouted. I've up potted and have lost some already, but I still have a table full of sprouts and more to be up potted. I even added another 4ft shop light. So now I'm completely out of space and have eggplants and cukes sprouted, ever a few peppers.

So I'm gonna take a chance and move 1or 2 of each variety out to the greenhouse with the collards and kale. I can keep the greenhouse above freezing but barely and we have cold weather predicted for the next 2 nights. Above freezing but cold.

Would an extra row cover blanket help? I can easily cover them. I added a big bulb grow lamp to the 2strings of Christmas lights because it puts out heat.

Kay

Is there a way to make a brace (sort of like tent poles) and wrap them in a blanket or towel? Do you have styrofoam sheeting that you could put around them (including or at least underneath)
Whichever you do, you might try filling a gallon jug with very hot water and putting it in the middle of the batch of seedlings under a bath towel (or two... make sure they're totally enclosed)

I kept a 250 watt bulb lamp in my hoop house, I do not see why you couldnt put one of those drop lights with like a 60 watt bulb, is that the shop light? or test out a 100 watt one. The 250 watt bulb was for the chicks when they were tiny. I see you said you put a lamp in there. I would bet the blanket over it too would help. It is amazing how the heat stays in with a heat bulb. Let us know how it goes I think they will do well. I have had some tomato seedlings out in a hoop over a 4x8 bed for a while, it has been really really cold some nights, they arent as big as their hoop house sister, but they are alive and I think will be very hardy come time to take off They have had no heat, I just leave them covered on warm days to make up for cold weather.
That hoop house sister though is so tall and sturdy, she is ear marked for my cousin in Louisiana.

I love our weather, I think it will be okay for you too
Ha-v-v

The daytime temps are way up so I'm hoping the ground has absorbed enough heat for the night. I have frost cover fabric that can be tented over them and the grow light can be put under the fabric. The brassicas are hardy enough to take just the Christmas lights. I have more than enough sprouts right now, but I expect to lose some. My daughter has said she wants any extras and my new neighbor is interested in starting a SFG this month. AND the senior citizen who is on duty at the recycle center is going to trade me tomatos for cow manure. SCORE. So suddenly my too many may wind up to be just enought. IF I CAN KEEP THEM GROWING PAST THE FIRST LEAVES.

Thanks for the suggestion of tenting.

Kay

Ha-v-v, the grow light it the spot light type and puts out a lot of heat.

I fill up gallon milk jugs with hot water for the cold nights and I have a teensy heater on a long cord I turn on on the colder nights out in my greenhouse.
I find that the more milk jugs I have the more they soak up some of the heat of the day and keep the greenhouse warm at night.
I have had my tomatoes in the greenhouse for a few weeks now.
But my cold nights are 15-20 farenheit.

The little electric heater was very cheap, as was the cord.

Kay......Just a note of caution: If the light heats up to any degree, you might not want to put any cloth or blanket over it so that it touches. Fire hazard. I think a double layer of heavy row cover (for fighting low temps). would help.

Lucky you to have so many to share with others. I think that's commendable of you. I share my extras, and I always have them, with the local community garden folks and contribute the rest to the early June Plant and Book sale at our small local library. In fact, I had one gardener email me just last week to ask if I would start some Sausage tomatoes for her this year. I gave her a couple last year. She made so many delicious sauce recipes with the ones she grew, she says she just loves the tomates and can't find any Organic ones online. Luckily I saved seeds. I'm happy to start a few extras for her this year.

Wrapping the tomatos in a double layer of frost blanket with some of the Christmas lights inside.



Inside the greenhouse. It was 58* when I zipped it up and turned on the lights. Lows in mid 30s predicted.



The rest of the tomatos

Just checked the greenhouse thermometer. It was 35* out side and 44* inside. Low temp inside got to 41*, so I think the tomatos will survive, they just may not grow a lot until the nights warm up a bit more. Will take a look when the sun comes up more.

Kay

walshevak wrote:Just checked the greenhouse thermometer. It was 35* out side and 44* inside. Low temp inside got to 41*, so I think the tomatos will survive, they just may not grow a lot until the nights warm up a bit more. Will take a look when the sun comes up more.

Kay

Good deal Kay!! I think they will make it the ones I have in the hoop over a bed are smaller than the ones in the big hoop house where it gets warmer. The ones in the smaller bed are fine growing, I know they will just shoot up with the warmer days. But that one in the big hoop house is a monster, I will share it today. I love having the "extra" area to work with, I didnt have any at all last year, no place to put the seedlings, this year has been lovely. I am so glad you had such success with those seeds!
Ha-v-v