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Re: Tomato Rescue Question

As another responder said, Harry's problem is insufficiently strong light
(i.e., source too far from top of seedlings) applied for an insufficient day
length.  I believe the standard for seedlings (not just toms; in general) is
18 hours on, 6 hours off per 24-hour cycle.  My hort teacher told me in 1974
that the "off" period is when the plants eat the food they made during the
lit-up hours, so darkness in some sort of regular cycle is important.

Harry, it's also likely that you seedlings would appreciate a nutrition
boost at this point.  If you're trying to go organic, fish emulsion (mixed
at half-strength from normal adult dosage on the label) would be a good
choice.  It's stinky but effective.  If you want to use the "blue stuff,"
like Miracle Gro (or Sterns' tomato-specific formula), half-strength might
even be too strong at this stage.  Water it way down and give 'em all a
uniform drink.

Another way to achieve that "tickling" treatment is to put a gentle fan on
the seedlings for a few hours every day.  They probably just beef up their
stem strength in response to the "wind."

As you pot up to larger containers (and I've heard three pottings-up is best
for toms, but I never take that much care myself), the plan of sinking the
stem below the soil level up to the bottom set of true leaves is a good one.

I've also seen in print a recommendation to put the plants into the garden
*on their sides*, bending the stem up at a gentle right angle so it emerges
from the soil at the bottom-most leaf level.  (Haven't done this yet myself.)

All along the buried stem parts, roots will come out, giving the newbies a
very strong grounding and lots of moisture and element sources.

--Janet
[big tomato lover, in Adelphi, MD, about 25 miles SW of Harry]

P.S.  Re setting them out into the garden "in about 3 weeks," Harry, be
wary.  We had a killing frost here last May 11.  Although that is later than
normal, unless you are going to use Wall-o-Waters around every plant, it is
not beneficial to outplant tomatoes here much before the second week in May.
The soil is still on the cold side and toms just won't do much growing when
they're chilled like that.    

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