Tomatoville® Gardening Forums - View Single Post - Purple underneath seedling leaves, then they curl up and die

Fusion_power · March 11, 2012

I've read tons of advice about growing seedlings at 65 degrees, but my experience has been that steady 65 is a very bad temperature for tomatoes. I like to see them go down to about 50 at night and up to about 90 in the day. This seems to stimulate them to grow healthier and with few problems. I suggest you either bring it up to 80 degrees for a day or two or else put them on a heat mat. The increased temperature will distinctly improve the roots ability to absorb nutrients. The other thing that would help would be to put the plants out into the sun if it is warm enough to do so. I just don't trust even the most expensive grow light systems. Keep in mind that your seedlings are NOT hardened off. You would have to do this gradually to acclimate the plants.

DarJones

March 11, 2012	#44
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	I've read tons of advice about growing seedlings at 65 degrees, but my experience has been that steady 65 is a very bad temperature for tomatoes. I like to see them go down to about 50 at night and up to about 90 in the day. This seems to stimulate them to grow healthier and with few problems. I suggest you either bring it up to 80 degrees for a day or two or else put them on a heat mat. The increased temperature will distinctly improve the roots ability to absorb nutrients. The other thing that would help would be to put the plants out into the sun if it is warm enough to do so. I just don't trust even the most expensive grow light systems. Keep in mind that your seedlings are NOT hardened off. You would have to do this gradually to acclimate the plants. DarJones