Tomato babies

Emily49 wrote:Beefsteak and BetterBoy

countrynaturals wrote:

Emily49 wrote:Beefsteak and BetterBoy

I don't know about BetterBoy, but my Beefsteak is only about 3 times the size of yours, and I planted it on Jan. 2, which sounds just about right. I'll take a pic later, but it's 97 out there right now.

CitizenKate wrote:How much light are they getting?

countrynaturals wrote:

countrynaturals wrote:

Emily49 wrote:Beefsteak and BetterBoy

I don't know about BetterBoy, but my Beefsteak is only about 3 times the size of yours, and I planted it on Jan. 2, which sounds just about right. I'll take a pic later, but it's 97 out there right now.

Here's mine:

It's about a foot tall and plodding along. By comparison, my cherry toms are close to 3' tall and loaded with blossoms and fruit, already.

OhioGardener wrote:My tomato babies are doing pretty good. They were planted on April 3rd, a month and 5 days ago. Unfortunately, they have outgrown the lights, and it is still too cold to transplant them into the beds. I have up-potted 3 of them into larger pots, but 6 of them are still in the original 2" CowPots.  Once they are transplanted, they will really take off, though.


These plants are still in the original 2" CowPots, and awaiting transplanting in the garden. The Basil plants in the same tray will be interplanted with the tomatoes.
These plants were up-potted and waiting for transplanting

Emily49 wrote:Hmm, my up potted tomatoes look like your 2" potted ones and mine were planted April 5.   My basil is smaller too.  I used only compost to pot up, so maybe that's it, or maybe they are having trouble rooting out of the pellet starters I used. I was wondering if I should have peeled that netting like stuff off first.

Emily49 wrote: I used only compost to pot up, so maybe that's it, or maybe they are having trouble rooting out of the pellet starters I used. I was wondering if I should have peeled that netting like stuff off first.

OhioGardener wrote:

Emily49 wrote: I used only compost to pot up, so maybe that's it, or maybe they are having trouble rooting out of the pellet starters I used. I was wondering if I should have peeled that netting like stuff off first.

I quit using those peat pellets with the plastic mesh around them many years ago. They not only confine the roots of larger plants, but they stay in the soil for years. Jiffy says they are photo-degradable, not bio-degradable. Problem is that once they are buried in the soil they do not get the light they need for the photo-degradable to take effect. I used to use peat pots instead of the pellets, but for the last number of years I started using CowPots which not only decompose faster but feed the plants while decomposing.  But, that is just my $0.02 worth, with change...