tomato seedling problem - Ask Extension
This question is from my friend Susan who asks, "what's wrong with my tomato seedlings?" They are getting funny colored leaves and seem to be dying.
Knowledgebase
tomato seedling problem #631088
Asked May 04, 2020, 2:51 PM EDT
This question is from my friend Susan who asks, "what's wrong with my tomato seedlings?" They are getting funny colored leaves and seem to be dying.
Alpena County Michigan
Expert Response
This is not enough information to develop a diagnosis or recommendation. They change their appearance drastically with different management over the course of a few hours when they are this small.
The most common problems with vegetable transplants are that they are watered too much, lighted too little, kept too cold, and held too long in pots too small.
Watering, by far is the number one problem. The pot needs to dry before watering again. Use your finger and feel the soil as far as you can without damaging the roots. If it's moist or wet they don't need more water. As they grow they will soak up more water and you can increase watering. If they are cold, they grow slow, and don't need as much watering.
They need 14-16 hours of light a day from a light source kept 1-2 inches above the tops of the plants. A tube light with 1500 to 3200 lumens is adequate.
They need 70-75 degrees during the day, and slightly cooler at night. Heating mats can help here, or plastic covers for the pots will help trap heat from the lights.
The pot size for tomatoes only matters when you intend to hold them longer than 8 weeks. The roots get crowded and the plant struggles. A 1-2 inch pot is adequate for transplanting within 6 weeks. A pot your size should be adequate.
The most common problems with vegetable transplants are that they are watered too much, lighted too little, kept too cold, and held too long in pots too small.
Watering, by far is the number one problem. The pot needs to dry before watering again. Use your finger and feel the soil as far as you can without damaging the roots. If it's moist or wet they don't need more water. As they grow they will soak up more water and you can increase watering. If they are cold, they grow slow, and don't need as much watering.
They need 14-16 hours of light a day from a light source kept 1-2 inches above the tops of the plants. A tube light with 1500 to 3200 lumens is adequate.
They need 70-75 degrees during the day, and slightly cooler at night. Heating mats can help here, or plastic covers for the pots will help trap heat from the lights.
The pot size for tomatoes only matters when you intend to hold them longer than 8 weeks. The roots get crowded and the plant struggles. A 1-2 inch pot is adequate for transplanting within 6 weeks. A pot your size should be adequate.
just wondering if it could be tomato blight? If so would copper fungicide work?
I do not think so.
