[fekq]

I just came across an article (from the USA) on growing tomato seedlings, and the author recommends brushing the tops of the seedlings daily in order to strengthen them. Apparently this is called "mechanical conditioning"

Has anyone tried this successfully? Or am i just going to look batty stood in the front window stroking my tomatos?

And does it work for other seedlings too?

She also suggests directing an electric fan at them too...

[p00rstudent]

i have a friend who purposely leaves his out on a breesey day so that the tomatoe seedlings flex in the wind, he recons that it results in stronger stems but i dont know how much truth there is in that, but it works for him.

[mumofstig]

I do this to anything that stays inside for a good while like toms and peppers and find it does make stronger stems. Of course you have to be gentle with them in the begginning.

It's the same reasoning behind the advice to use smaller angled stakes for trees rather than the taller ones. The idea is that a bit of movement makes them grow stronger, same as a bit of exercise does for us

[Lee G]

I do this to anything that stays inside for a good while like toms and peppers and find it does make stronger stems. Of course you have to be gentle with them in the begginning.

It's the same reasoning behind the advice to use smaller angled stakes for trees rather than the taller ones. The idea is that a bit of movement makes them grow stronger, same as a bit of exercise does for us

I'm with Mumofstig on this, exposing all my seedlings to a bit of breeze to strengthen stems and stop things getting leggy.  Seems to work for me.

[zazen999]

I blow on mine regularly...and brush the tops when I'm passing.

[Chiswickian]

Pippa Greenwood talked about this on GQT a while back - scientifically proven to work apparently.

[fekq]

fabulous. thought i'd sussed growing toms (in that i always end up giving away about 20 plants as i grow too many!) -- great to see there's always something to learn!

[Howard]

fabulous. thought i'd sussed growing toms (in that i always end up giving away about 20 plants as i grow too many!) -- great to see there's always something to learn!

Isn't it just. This one has definitely been stored away! 

[celjaci]

The same principle is applied to young trees. They used to be planted with a long stake and held with 2 or 3 tree ties.
Now the best practice is to go for very short stakes just to secure the base and tops are allowed to move with the wind - apparently they grow stronger and establish faster

[lacewing]

I tried the leaf stripping method with my tomatoes last year and got a huge crop. At first i thought i had made a big mistake as the first tomatoes started to ripen whilst quite small, but as the plants grew bigger they produced huge trusses of  great tasting tomatoes, and went on fruting until Novimber.

[Stripey_cat]

I do this with anything that needs hardening off, too.

[LivvyW]

Joy Larkcom recommends brushing or stroking with a piece of card or paper to toughen seedlings up instead of going to the trouble of hardening off by putting them outside during the day for a while.

Developed by the Japanese apparently.

Brush them for up to a minute a day for the duration of the normal hardening off period.

[madcat]

So ...  how do I convince the neighbours that I'm not completely mad when I'm stood at the window talking to my plants and stroking them ...   

Can I blame it on the wrong specs and I thought they were the cat???