I know I am getting a little a head from my last post, but I think this is important for anyone starting tomatoes from seed (which is the best way in my opinion).
There is no question that starting a plant from seed requires extra patience and extra work. Seedlings require ideal conditions to help them thrive and produce healthy plants. Tomatoes, although a hearty plant, do require a little extra love when starting them from seed.
I started my tomato seedlings at the end of February. It is very important when starting warm weather plants, like tomatoes and peppers, that the soil in your seed tray be kept at 75 degrees or slightly above, for proper germination. If the soil is too hot or too cold, the seed will never germinate and eventually rot in the soil, thus giving no plant. Heating mats specifically for seed trays can be purchased just about anywhere gardening equipment is sold. They can be a little pricey, but are well worth the investment. If you stagger your seed planting, you can get by with two heat mats (which is what I have). Most early spring seeds, like cabbage, beets, broccoli, lettuce, and spinach germinate best in cool soil (extensive heat can cause these seedlings distress), in which case a heat mat would not be needed. My advice is to start with one, then decide later if you need another. Seedlings also need to be kept moist until sprouting, moisture can be controlled by using a plastic covering for your seed tray, these are usually sold with seed tray packages or can be purchased separately. My recommendation is to find a covering with a center vent, this allows for air flow and prevents white mold from forming on the soil.
Once your tomatoes sprout and are in full "growing"mode, it is important to continue to monitor them closely. Tomatoes are what I call "nutrient suckers". They require A LOT of nutrients while growing and producing fruit, they also require adequate moisture. I checked on my tomatoes today and found a slight yellowing of the upper leaves.
Yellowing of the leaves can occur for various reasons, since my seedlings are inside where there are presumably no pests, my assessment was moisture levels were low and the soil in the tray cups was likely running low on nutrients. To remedy this I watered my tomatoes first with water I saved from boiling eggs a couple days ago. This water is high in calcium, which tomatoes love. Next, I poured WARM water into the drainage tray, so that the roots can reach water. My personal preference when plants reach this stage is to NOT pour water on the plants in the trays. It compacts the soil, thus decreasing the amount of soil in the individual cup, and eventually the soil at the bottom ends up in the drainage tray, which does your plant no good. I recommend using warm water for warm weather plants, this keeps the soil warm and doesn't "shock" your plants with cold water. Next, I applied a small amount of Mykos Drops. These drops, or granules, can be found anywhere garden supplies are sold. The Mykos Drops contain natural bacteria which help to maximize soil nutrients and root health. I will continue to monitor my plants closely for the next few weeks to see if the yellowing disappears.
Don't let this deter you from growing tomatoes from seed. You have selection of more variety (and organic options if you go that route), whereas the plants you buy from the store have likely been treated with chemicals and are of only a few varieties. We grew tomatoes from seed last year, they were not only the best tasting tomatoes I had ever had, but they survived our Iowa drought and immense heat last summer. I canned over 40 quarts of tomatoes and could have canned several more if I had not run out of jars. For beginner gardeners I highly recommend starting with tomatoes, and if you have limited space, cherry tomatoes grow great (and often prefer) containers like pots.
My tomatoes (organic and cherry) after a month of growing in the seed tray
Good luck on your growing adventures!
"I was just sittin' here enjoyin' the company. Plants got a lot to say, if you take the time to listen" ~ Eeyore
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