Seedling growth rate

tgplp · February 8, 2011

For some reason, I get the sinking feeling that maybe my tomato seedlings don't grow as fast as normal seedlings over the past two years. Can you tell me what stages they should be each week ( from germination, not day seed is planted)until transplant? (how many true leaves, how tall, etc.) right now it has been about a week from germination, and they are all about 1-2 inches tall. They have big, healthy cotyledons and no seeds are attached to any of them. They all have two tiny true leaves appearing. Does this sound ok??? Because what I'm inferring from different websites/ random threads and seedling pics that they should already have bigger true leaves, and even more showing.

This could be a totally dumb question, but I worry dumb things about my tomatoes sometimes. Anyways, sorry if this is one of those times.

Thanks!
Taryn

kath · February 8, 2011

They sound right on schedule to me. They have all they need in the beginning. At that size just keep them really close to the light source for ~ 16 hrs. a day and not too warm. Circulating air or using a pencil to gently run across them a couple times a day should help make thicker stems, some say. Don't overwater.

RinTinTin · February 9, 2011

While that couldn't be described as 'fantastic' growth, it certainly wouldn't be any reason for concern. Sounds like it is about normal. By plant-out time, you should have some nice, bushy X-plants set to go.

dice · February 11, 2011

How old are your light bulbs? Flourescent bulbs lose some of
their light output over time. It also helps to run a dust-collecting
cloth over them and the undersides of their reflectors each year
before beginning.

A graph on this page shows light output decay for flourescents
in hours:
http://www.gel.net.au/howitworks.htm

Figure at an average of 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, for
8 weeks, that would be 784 hours a year if you did not use
those lights for anything else. So you do not lose much intensity
the first couple of years, when you have them on for 12-16 hours
a day.

They do need to be very close to the seedlngs, though.

February 8, 2011	#1
tgplp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pacific North West, zone 8a Posts: 510	Seedling growth rate For some reason, I get the sinking feeling that maybe my tomato seedlings don't grow as fast as normal seedlings over the past two years. Can you tell me what stages they should be each week ( from germination, not day seed is planted)until transplant? (how many true leaves, how tall, etc.) right now it has been about a week from germination, and they are all about 1-2 inches tall. They have big, healthy cotyledons and no seeds are attached to any of them. They all have two tiny true leaves appearing. Does this sound ok??? Because what I'm inferring from different websites/ random threads and seedling pics that they should already have bigger true leaves, and even more showing. This could be a totally dumb question, but I worry dumb things about my tomatoes sometimes. Anyways, sorry if this is one of those times. Thanks! Taryn

February 11, 2011	#4
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	How old are your light bulbs? Flourescent bulbs lose some of their light output over time. It also helps to run a dust-collecting cloth over them and the undersides of their reflectors each year before beginning. A graph on this page shows light output decay for flourescents in hours: http://www.gel.net.au/howitworks.htm Figure at an average of 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 8 weeks, that would be 784 hours a year if you did not use those lights for anything else. So you do not lose much intensity the first couple of years, when you have them on for 12-16 hours a day. They do need to be very close to the seedlngs, though. __________________ -- alias

February 8, 2011	#2
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	They sound right on schedule to me. They have all they need in the beginning. At that size just keep them really close to the light source for ~ 16 hrs. a day and not too warm. Circulating air or using a pencil to gently run across them a couple times a day should help make thicker stems, some say. Don't overwater.

February 9, 2011	#3
RinTinTin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 581	While that couldn't be described as 'fantastic' growth, it certainly wouldn't be any reason for concern. Sounds like it is about normal. By plant-out time, you should have some nice, bushy X-plants set to go.