need help growing tomatoes!

[mom-from-missouri]

Does anyone grow tomatoes from seed that can help me out? I've done it for 20+ years with no problems. But, the last 5 years or so, my tomato plants get about 3 inches tall, then fall over-the stems break and they are dead. They are also very spindly looking. I don't know what I am doing wrong, as I am doing it the way I have always done it....Any ideas?? I usually start them inside the first part of march, and its about that time. I am not sure if I want to attempt it again, or just buy them at 6 inches from the hardware store...

[amomof4]

It's my guess that they same thing that happened with your seedlings will happpen with those that you buy at the store. I'm not an expert, buy is sounds like you have a virus in your soil. Do a enternet search on tomato plant diseases to see if you can find out what's happening.

[baselle]

Are you buying the seed or are you collecting seeds from an heirloom tomato? If you are collecting the seeds from a tomato, they need to ferment - harvest the seeds with the goo, let the seeds and goo rest for a couple of days in a jar (get good and stinky), then rinse the seeds from the goo, let the seeds dry, store in a cool dry place.

Several tricks that helped me:

Even moisture - no crusts
Even warmth - best place for tomato starts from seed is above the refrigerator. When you see sprouting, then move them into the light.

That weakness you see in the stems could be rot, or it could be a calcium deficiency.
Water gently, avoiding stems.
Adding calcium helps too - 2 plain Tums with calcium dissolved in a quart of water worked well for me. Let the water sit a bit so the starch in the tablet settles to the bottom.

[mom-from-missouri]

I am buying the seeds. I really don't think it is the soil, as I have used both potting soil and the little jiffy sprout things and it still happens. Its like they get top heavy--about the time they start to get leaves, they just break and fall over. I will try the TUMS. The ones I get at the store to fine-of course they are bigger. Mine do the break and die when they are about 2 1/2 inches tall. The store bought ones are more around 6 inches when I get them. I even thought about trying to make little collars to go around them....

[mom-from-missouri]

OK. I just planted some-store bought seeds. Cherry and beef masters....They are on the refrig top, watered with TUMS water. Later, I will moved them to my green room--skylight and 3 walls are glass, with a stone paver floor. Its unheated except by the sun, so its still too cold for them out there for a few more weeks. Wish me luck.

[baselle]

Fingers crossed for you!!! Should be about a week. when they start to sprout, they need light. East or south facing window. Even watering. TUMS or no TUMS is your choice - the babies only need a little calcium.

Another frugal gardening tip: couple of years ago, my tomato plants in the garden looked odd. I couldn't put my finger on it, but the young leaves were narrow and the plant had a purplish cast. They didn't look bad, just odd... I traced it to a phosphate deficiency and watered the plants with a 1/3 can of Coke in a quart of water. Perked them right up. I'm sure the brand is not important but the soda should have phosphoric acid as an ingredient.

[mom-from-missouri]

They all just fell over and died again. I had 24 going-all 24 croaked within 24 hours. The stems just break and off fall their heads. I am going to start some more. This ticks me off--I am now on a mission to figure this out. Momma versus the tomatoes.....

[SeeAPenny]

Sheesh, how odd. Are they getting too 'leggy' somehow? Legginess in seedlings occurs when there isn't optimal lighting -- with the stems growing spindly and weak.....

[mom-from-missouri]

OK. They are getting leggy again, in full sun, in store bought potting soil....i give them till wed and they will die too...i have given them tums water for the calcium.....any ideas that i have not tried--they are inside

[shawni]

I wish I had some good advice for you. I never manange to grow anything from seed. I figure I make up the cost in buying young plants in the time and frustration I would spend with starting them from scratch. www.gardenweb.com has incredible plant forums including one just for tomatoes. Good luck!

[jodi]

I know this is too late...but the same thing happened to me, so I asked my cousin who runs a greenhouse. He said that it sounded like they weren't getting enough light. But you said yours were in full sun??
I will be buying mine again this year from my dear old cousin!

[mom-from-missouri]

Yep, in full sun. I had it and threw them out. I have some now that I bought at 3 inches tall and they are now over a foot tall, growing and thriving in the same spot the others died in. I have a sunroom off my kitchen where I have herbs and veggies going.

[Ana72]

You can grow tomatoes in a plant box. When they started to sprout and produced two to three first leaves, you can already transfer it to the planting area.

[briandownie]

Sorry to be so late with my reply but I just saw this. Maybe it will help you next year.

Here are some pointers.

If your tomatoes are getting leggy they need more light. The stalk gets too tall and can't support itself. Try putting them under a fluorescent light fixture (about one inch from the light) if you can. If the tomatoes are in a window they may still be reaching for the light and turning them daily will help. That's so they don't lean too far one way.

Tomatoes also like warm feet. If you can start the seeds on top of a refrigerator or make a home made cloche (use a pop bottle) to act like a small greenhouse.

Be very careful not to over water any kind of seedlings, tomatoes included. If the potting mix is too wet and doesn't get a chance to dry out you can develop a fungus called damp-off. The plants will die for sure and you can count on throwing out all the potting mix. If you have damp-off you'll know by a small area of rot at the base of the plant, right where it fell over. If this happens make sure you sterilize or discard all of your pots and planting equipment or you will re-infect the potting mix the next time you plant the seeds.

Use a general purpose fertilizer like 20:20:20 but a very weak solution. Don't worry about the tums yet and keep them until the plants are bigger, I always put a tum or two in the hole when I plant my tomatoes in the garden. The tums are really important for good fruit production.

I hope this helps!

Brian