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Re: Help! Indoor starts drooping

Windy One wrote:
> 
> Hi all, need some advise on my veggie starts.  I bought 3 tomato plants
> (Burpee Big Girl and 2 Beter Boys), a green bell pepper plant, Wala Walla
> onions, and Green comet brocolli about a week ago.  They were doing great
> in the house in a fairly sunny location, being watered enough to keep the
> soil very moist and about 1/8 of an inch of water in  the trays.  I have
> had the flu for the  last 2 days  and when I came out of my bedroom for the
> first time today, my hubby had put them outside because "they looked
> horrible, they were droopy and tying to lean towards the window".  When I
> told him to bring them back in, he was right.  The tomato plants dont look
> too bad, but the onions and brocolli look horrible.  They are practiclly
> lying  down.
> 
> We have had overcast days for the  last couple of days, so I dont think
> they were getting enough sunlight.  Would it be OK to use a florecent shop
> light (one of those long ones) over the plants?  Do I have to use a grow
> light?  It is still cold outside and not nearly time to transplant (geez,
> we dont even have the garden dug up yet!!) the nursery said not to move the
> tomatoes outside until the first of June.  All of the plants have grown
> about 3-5 inches in hight  and have sprouted the 3rd set of leaves.  The
> plants themselves look good, green and no dead leaves....just really
> droopy.
> 
> Any  help would be great, I dont want these poor things to die before they
> even get a chance in the garden!!
> Jessica
> Zone 4/5
> N.W. Montana

Well hello Montana this is s.w.Idaho talking at cha.
Foolishness aside.The lights sound great as you have aways to go with
the toms.
Broccoli and onions should be hardened off for several days(taken out in
the day and brought back into a cool spot, such as an unheated garage or
room)then planted out in the area prepared for them.They are pretty
hardy plants and can take frosts if not too cold say under 29-30 but
must be hardened off first.

From what you say your watering too much.The little roots they have will
drownd soon if you dont allow them to dry for short times and then when
you do water dont leave any standing water in the containers.Under
lights they will(the toms)grow fast and you should have fruits as hoped
for this summer if all goes well.(dont forget to give them some light
feedings as they grow.)

Get well soon,
Connie
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