[yummy]

I have about 20 tomato seedlings in small pots in front of patio doors. I move them away from the doors at night.

The smallest have started wilting today and seem to have died. Is this just because they are the smallest? It seems odd that they have all gone in quick succession.

Is there anything I can do to make sure my better seedlings don't go downhill too?

Thanks

[triage999]

Don' quote me but I think it is far to early to plant tomatoes yet, I have a greenhouse and will not start them in there until the end of next month!

Outdoor planting is usually around May.

[yummy]

Oh ok. It said from Feb indoors/under glass on the packet.

They are inside the house and have been fine for 3/4 weeks until today.

[muntjac]

sounds like damping off . over watering causes this . also if they get affecxted by central heating and then sudden cold shock this will knock them out

[yummy]

Ah ok. They are nice and snug til I open the patio and let the dogs out. It has been noticeably colder today so perhaps they keep getting blasted  

thanks

[Trillium]

Toms may seem tough as old boots when they're growing, but they're extremely susceptible to cold drafts, and your patio door sounds like a humdinger blast source. Always remember where toms came from - Mexico, and they still wish they were back there. I even check my window ledges for any drafts that might be sneaking through.
Next time find somewhere else to rest them, even if its not as sunny.  

[yummy]

Next time find somewhere else to rest them, even if its not as sunny.  

I've no idea where to put them next time. I was advised to move them from the previous position because they were getting really leggy  

[Annie]

If you wait a couple of weeks then by the time they are a few inches tall it may be warm enough to pop them outside during the day and use tinfoil to reflect the light.Better luck next time.

[WG.]

Toms may seem tough as old boots when they're growing, but they're extremely susceptible to cold drafts, and your patio door sounds like a humdinger blast source. Always remember where toms came from - Mexico, and they still wish they were back there.  

That was my theory too Trillium but, since I don't grow tomatoes, I decided to stay quiet (for once).

Drafts were a big problem for my mate Oscar too.  He was a computer hardware engineer from Mexico City and he froze his buns off in Scotland.

[ziggywigs]

Need to grow them away from draughts, direct sun and any radiators (or artificial heat sources), but with plenty of light.

It's quite difficult to achieve really - my plants are in the guest bathroom as this was the only place i could find for them to grow on until i get my greenhouse up and running.

[beansticks]

Oh Ziggy,guest bathroom theres posh.

[Trillium]

Only once, WG ?    

Yummy, if you're so determined to start toms early, despite other lotty advise, then you'd best invest in a fluroescent fixture to suspend over a suitable area for your seedlings. Best bulb to use is a full spectrum one, or Grower's Bulb, so the plant is happier and stronger. Perhaps someone can rig up a short timber upside down C frame structure to suspend the light from as you want the light source about 6" above seedling tops and able to move higher as the plants grow.
Otherwise, be more patient and wait a bit longer. I suspect the early start date on the packet is more for commercial/nursery growers info and simply copied onto domestic pkgs.

[DD.]

Don' quote me but I think it is far to early to plant tomatoes yet, I have a greenhouse and will not start them in there until the end of next month!

Outdoor planting is usually around May.

It's not too early if they are going into a heated greenhouse. I've just potted mine on.

I suspect the draughts got them!

Apologies for repeating this again, but unless you meticulously read every message, it's easy to miss - and you don't need to mess about with fancy lights - just take what nature offers......

Start them inside on a window sill. I put mine in a seed tray, (24 seeds to a half size tray), cover with glass or polythene, then cover that with newspaper to keep out the light.

As soon as the first one shows, take off the covering, tuck a bit of cooking foil part way under the seed tray, on one long side, then bring up the back & sides vertically, leaving one long side exposed. (If this makes sense). The foil should be 3" to 4" longer than the seed tray on each side. What you should end up with is a vertical piece of foil behind the tray and for a certain length on each side.

This will increase the amount of light the plant gets & stop it becoming 'drawn'. Keep in the window sill, obviously with the exposed side of the seed tray facing the window.

After the second set of leaves is well formed, pot up into 3" pots, keep in window sill until it's consistantly reasonably warm at night, (unless the greenhouse is heated), not forgetting to come up with some cunning plan to keep the foil in position. I grow mine in a small upstairs window and 'blue tac' the foil across the ledge.

Hope this helps and is not too confusuing. The foil bit is easy to do, not so easy to write down!!!

And oops, sorry triage999 - I DID quote you :oops:  :oops:

[leeky]

Dave, that would make an excellent sig line    

[DD.]

Dave, that would make an excellent sig line    

If you mean growing toms for 42 years - that IS my sig line & also true!