Growing a tomato plant inside my house-- help me make this successful

[Arielle]

THanks for the input-- appreciated, even if only on 3 cups of Joe!! lol

I need to re-read the potting soil packaging, As I remember it said NOT to add fertilizer until repotting BUT I didn't see any fertilizer listed as part of the contents.

THe soil is getting a bit dry and as I tend to over water I have tried to wait until this point. THe top is just dry to the touch, and when I scrape at the top layer, it is crumbly dry. It is drier than it looks.

TIme to water. Will see if I have any fertilizer in the storge cabinet.

 

[Arielle]

Container was a little too dry. Leaves starting to dry---oops. Added warm water to the container and into the drip pan and let it saturate for a couple hours. Poured off excess in the drip pan.

Leaves are very dark green and looking plumped this morning.

As long as I dont kill the last seed to sprout-- it is the shortest and the stoutest and did n't suffer noticably from the lack of water.

 

[JWEBB]

I'd didn't go back all the way to the beginning but if it hasn't been mentioned worm castings mixed in your potted soil does great things
I had to chuckle because we are in similar zones and I see many people now are starting tomatoes indoors here in the east. Nice to see I'm not the only one hungry for some fresh tomatoes!

This is my first year doing it too.. I started some lettuce and tomatoes the 20th of january or so under a flood light with a reflector. I have black seeded simpson since its so sturdy and I like it.. and cherry tomatoes.. nice early little chums... so far so good just ready to repot now the lettuce is getting leggy. The little cherrys are stout and hardy looking have first set of real leaves.

It sounds like you will have some good indoor maters too Arielle. What kind of light are you using?

I experimented and switched to a 4 ft dbl flourescent now with 2 aquarium plant light bulbs but I think they may be too cool? never did this with tomatoes so we'll see how it goes. .

Any suggestions on better light ? I like to have some natural on them but the temp is so cold near the windows I can't.

 

[hosspak]

I'd didn't go back all the way to the beginning but if it hasn't been mentioned worm castings mixed in your potted soil does great things
I had to chuckle because we are in similar zones and I see many people now are starting tomatoes indoors here in the east. Nice to see I'm not the only one hungry for some fresh tomatoes!

This is my first year doing it too.. I started some lettuce and tomatoes the 20th of january or so under a flood light with a reflector. I have black seeded simpson since its so sturdy and I like it.. and cherry tomatoes.. nice early little chums... so far so good just ready to repot now the lettuce is getting leggy. The little cherrys are stout and hardy looking have first set of real leaves.

It sounds like you will have some good indoor maters too Arielle. What kind of light are you using?

I experimented and switched to a 4 ft dbl flourescent now with 2 aquarium plant light bulbs but I think they may be too cool? never did this with tomatoes so we'll see how it goes. .

Any suggestions on better light ? I like to have some natural on them but the temp is so cold near the windows I can't.

A little more costly for the electric but I would put up a infrared bulb... the red one for extra heat. I don't like 24hr lighting.. because they don't get that in the outdoors. But the extra heat will perk em up. Just watch the soil and keep it from trying out...

 

[hosspak]

Container was a little too dry. Leaves starting to dry---oops. Added warm water to the container and into the drip pan and let it saturate for a couple hours. Poured off excess in the drip pan.

Leaves are very dark green and looking plumped this morning.

As long as I dont kill the last seed to sprout-- it is the shortest and the stoutest and did n't suffer noticably from the lack of water.

Keep your watering constant and regular... It's ok to let the very top of soil to dry but no more than 1/4 to 1/2. But you still need to deep water the plant. Irregular watering will cause tomatoes to split or it can trick the plant into thinking there is drought conditions and may put it's energy into growing only foliage and no fruit.

 

[Arielle]

I'd didn't go back all the way to the beginning but if it hasn't been mentioned worm castings mixed in your potted soil does great things
I had to chuckle because we are in similar zones and I see many people now are starting tomatoes indoors here in the east. Nice to see I'm not the only one hungry for some fresh tomatoes!

This is my first year doing it too.. I started some lettuce and tomatoes the 20th of january or so under a flood light with a reflector. I have black seeded simpson since its so sturdy and I like it.. and cherry tomatoes.. nice early little chums... so far so good just ready to repot now the lettuce is getting leggy. The little cherrys are stout and hardy looking have first set of real leaves.

It sounds like you will have some good indoor maters too Arielle. What kind of light are you using?

I experimented and switched to a 4 ft dbl flourescent now with 2 aquarium plant light bulbs but I think they may be too cool? never did this with tomatoes so we'll see how it goes. .

Any suggestions on better light ? I like to have some natural on them but the temp is so cold near the windows I can't.

How exciting to have the first set of leaves on the tomatos-- I'm envious!!!

It is a bit early for starts for in ground planting-- this is for indoors only. So just a few to live in my upstairs bathroom ( big window, and heat if necessary.

)

Worm castings would be good-- I never did more than research having a bin for vermiculture , as our winter temps in the house can be a bit cold for the red worms. Do you use them? Have a bin??


I tried doing starts 2 years ago-- waaaaaay too many starts--- and have grow lights for the job. I know some lights are better than others, but looking at the packaging does not hae the helpful info--so I splurged on growlights. Funny though, my mom further north always put the newly planted seeds on the baseboard heating until up, then into the windows on the summer porch. I really know nothing about the lights. Just that some work better than others-- not very helpful I"m afraid, lol.

As for lettuce, we eat so much that I buy boxes and boxes all winter. I don't see how I could keep up with that demand.

I do like to plant a thin row in the garden, and snip with scissors to harvest. Leaving about a 1+ stub to regrow. Couldnot keep up with the growth. I did learn that leaves right out of the garden are rather wilty, and to clean them and put in a bag with some water and in to the frig made them very yummy.

DS pushed to tomatos last night at the store-- helped him select the ripe red variety, and he eats them like an apple.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: IT is a tricky balance isn't it?? I'm sure when they are repotted into larger pots watering correctly will get easier.

 

[hosspak]

IT is a tricky balance isn't it?? I'm sure when they are reposted into larger pots watering correctly will get easier.

What size pots are they in now?

 

[Arielle]

Quote: In a 4 x 4 mushroom container.

THat is in another larger mushroom container, about 6x6 , to catch drainage.

WHat are you thinking??

 

[hosspak]

In a 4 x 4 mushroom container.

THat is in another larger mushroom container, about 6x6 , to catch drainage.

WHat are you thinking??

Assuming you have 1 plant to each container... I would recommend that when you repot, you put them in whatever you will be keeping them in; flower pot, bucket, whatever. And here is a tip; 2 days before transplanting, you water them with B-12 and then for 2 days afterwards. This will add a boost for root growth. And whenever you plant seeds, transplant, or start cuttings mix the soil with water first then pack it in your pots, this will eliminate any dry air pockets in the pot from the top layer all the way through to the bottom and it will eliminate flooding the top layers of soil away when you pour in the water. Just enough water to get it moist, not muddy. I know you know this, but make sure you have drainage. I always bury my tomatoes to an inch or two above the previous soil line. Builds better root system.