They’re getting so tall! With neat little leaves!
Very cool! That’s a lot of tomatos. Any plans for the payoff?
When plants get tall/thin like that they’re called leggy. If you can, see if you can get them some more light. As another poster said, you can burry tomatoes pretty deep so even if you can’t get more light it won’t be the end of the world.
Tomato sauce! Since they’re San marzano tomatoes! As for light, there’s no real good place to get them more light. The week before they go out in planning on putting them outside in the container to…harden them or something? If it fails, ah well, I will have learned!
Tomato sauce! Since they’re San marzano tomatoes!
I’m a bit jealous. I tried San Marzanos a few years ago and they didn’t produce very well for me :(
As for light, there’s no real good place to get them more light.
Don’t worry about that too much, just bury them deeper than they’re currently planted and they’ll be fine.
The week before they go out in planning on putting them outside in the container to…harden them or something?
Hardening gets your indoor seedlings used to three things:
- Direct sunlight. Even if you have grow lights at your disposal, direct sun is very bright. Your plants will get something equivalent to sunburn if you bring them into direct sunlight right off the bat and leave them there
- Changes in temperature. This is part of the reason why some will suggest bringing them indoors at night for their first few nights
- Wind, which can help encourage thicker stems
Like cooking, hardening can be tailored to your plants/situation but when you’re just starting off following a know recipe might be less frustrating. If your temperature is going to not be too crazy, and it’s not going to be that windy, you can park your plants in a somewhat sunny spot for a week or so. Putting our seedlings under our kid’s trampoline has worked really well in years past.
Unfortunately windy is an unknown factor. It can get suuuuper windy here. I think the side of the house might be the best bet, but even then…
Stupid smarch weather.
If you’re able to pull them in and out for a few hours a day initially, go that route. Starting on a weekend might be easier.
And yes, sheltered spots are the way to go. It’s generally not that windy here, so under the trampoline works well. The north side of your house is probably a good spot as well.
North is a complete no go. That’s right against the property line to an asshole with a bitey dog. Can the opposite work?
The south side of your house will have the most sun - especially if you’re somewhat far north. I would go for either the east or west side instead. Before I had the trampoline realization, I used our east facing porch to limit sunlight without having to bring the plants in/out for a few hours a day.
East is easy, that’s the front. I can put them on the porch! Still not much to protect them from wind, but so be it. May the healthiest plant survive?? XD
Pro tip: If you pot these up into deeper containers and bury the stems as deep as you can you will have very hearty plants. If you continue growing the starts in these pots they will become root bound very “leggy” or tall and it will stunt future growth until they can recover.
They look healthy and plentiful - I wish they were mine! Enjoy :)
