Seedlings
My seedlings just don’t seem to be growing as quickly as other people’s seem to be. I have been fertilizing them with all sorts of natural amendments and I mixed compost into the soil mixture when I transplanted. While they are growing, I feel like they are coming along slowly. They were planted around March 11th.
So I decided to break out the pump and start up some compost tea. It is bubbling away and should be ready in a couple of days.
I can’t help but wonder what other factors lead to slow growth. I really don’t feel that it can be a nutrient deficiency at this point.
April 19th, 2009 at 11:05 am
My opo squash and corriander have not been coming along either, not sure why as I used the same sterile seed mix as for the others, and the others are fine. What do you have in your compost tea?
April 19th, 2009 at 11:42 am
i hope they start to grow quickly and soon!
i don’t want to sound like i know for certain, but you can over-fertilize and this will stunt growth sometimes. this is why i use fish emulsion which i buy and can measure and be certain of the exact nutrition i am giving the plants.
April 19th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
My seedlings were planted around March 7th so they’re not that much older than yours. Are they warm enough? I noticed a huge difference in the flats- one had a heating cable and one didn’t. The one with the cable grew much faster, even after I removed it. They just seemed like they got a better start and were stronger plants. I don’t know if that’s it or not.
Thanks for the offer of help. I’ll keep it in mind. I think we have things under control. I’m just dreading trying to start a new garden plot. I’ve been spoiled having one that has had years to be developed and now I have to start from scratch. But it should be an adventure. I’m not sure I’ll be able to move by the end of the week but we’ll see.
Judy
April 19th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
at least yours have sprouted! most of mine are just sitting in the soil. agh! i cannot believe i am not going to have tomatoes this year.
i refuse to buy the chain store’s crappy offerings. i must have my amish paste and rose or nothing!
April 24th, 2009 at 2:52 am
I have some that are huge, and some that are puny. Even within my tomatoes some are massive, others tiny. I think it is the variety - my Riesentraube cherry tomato starts are 1/4 the size of my Orange Flesh Purple Smudge and Brandywine seedlings, and they were started at the same time, in the same medium, under the same lights.
One thing that I do, is keep the light bright and close to my seedlings, and have a heating mat under the types of plants that need warm soil. I also like to rotate my trays into some sunlight when it is a bright day so that they get more full spectrum light too…