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Tomato Diary April 20-Notes to Self
Starting from seed can open the door to more variety, but it helps to keep notes.
1) Don't start too early! Holding seedlings under poor conditions while waiting for ideal weather results in weak, spindly plants. I want my seedlings to be “comfortable” in an airy environment with days of 65-70, and nights of 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit, and under lights 16 hours a day. I grow too many seedlings to use windows for light. Many instructions revolve around freeze dates, but it is nighttime temps around 55 that are most important for setting out tomato plants in my garden. Most years I start in mid-March.
2) Containers should be the right size, and easy to move. I start with the smallest containers to make good use of space and try many varieties, but tomatoes grow quickly, and after true leaves develop, they need to be “potted up” to larger containers.
3) Don't start too late! I want even the late varieties to be outside and ready to flower before days stay above 90 degrees. I usually aim to get them all planted around May 1st.
4) Don't forget about hardening off! Tomato seedlings like to grow in comfort, but you will need to slow growth by “hardening” them to withstand changes in environmental conditions. I “harden off” by gradually exposing them to cooler daytime temperatures; I try for two weeks, starting with 45-50 degrees F for two hours in a shady spot protected from wind.
5) Don't grow so many! I love all the colors, shapes, sizes, and leaves of so many varieties, but most seeds will germinate and survive, and each plant needs five months of care and can produce 10-15 pounds or more!
