Sure cure for Leggy Tomato Seedlings.

[TomHillbilly]

This is a post for those newer growers. That might panic the first time they encounter leggy tomato seedlings. This woman will show you all ya need to know. I do as her --but I'm more genial with the plant. When a two leaf sheds its husk, it is searching for sunlight. If it don't get as much as needed. The plant will trigger a internal program to start rapid growth, reaching for the light. This internal program is for plants that is being shaded by other plants. They will try and out grow their competitors. It can be triggered during to many cloudy days. Or by to much dependence on growth lights. Once a seedling receives the message to start rapid grow. It is hard to get it to stop. Even after you have solved the problem. Seedlings can shoot up so fast, their thin stems can't support the tops. This lady knows her stuff, her video will show ya what to do. When she is finished, those plants will grow a great root system. Perhaps even better than they would have, if they were normal seedlings.

[Gardadore]

Very nicely done and surely helpful to all beginners who face this problem! Am finding this year some of my seedlings already in 18 0z cups may not have been planted deep enough when removed from paper towels to the cups so may need to be replanted either in the same cup or transferred to a larger one! At some point when they get tall bamboo skewers are useful tied to the stem with velcro tape help keep the more advanced tall plants upright until it is warm enough to plant them in the ground or grow bags as the case may be.

[Shule]

Low phosphorus and cool temperatures are supposed to help prevent legginess in seedlings, too. I've read that some big commercial seed-growers take advantage of that. Of course, phosphorus is a needed nutrient (eventually), and very important, and cool temperatures aren't always desirable. Those growers probably have a lot of light on those plants.

With enough light, even plants in high phosphorus soils don't get leggy, though.

[TomHillbilly]

@Gardadore---- A similar trick you used on some of your plants, I had to use on a couple of varieties in the past. Russian Queen was one of them. The other variety I trashed. I only remembered Russian Queen, because I grew it several years. It will take off 16 inches high in the potting tray container, while the other varieties are just 6 inches. The Queen has real thin stems, until fruit sets on hard. Then they grow stronger stems. I did like the variety, but early support is a must. Its a tall grower for sure. It has few suckers--just grows straight up like a beanstalk. Bares very heavy smaller fruit, a little larger than a ex-large hen egg-- but the same shape. The Fruit has nice gold tiger stripes, on a red background. No large pods of fruit. The fruit is spread out like Christmas ornaments. PS-- I'm not trying to sell your on the variety. Just saying at least two varieties will do as you described on their own, without any fault of the grower. You can Goggle, or youtube the variety, and see others mention what I said is its normal characteristic.

[Gardadore]

Interesting. Checked out this variety. Very pretty tomato. One variety that gets tall very quickly for me and outgrows the rest in no time is Esmeralda Golosina. Amazon Chocolate can also outpace it’s peers quickly as well. I don’t lose any sleep over it, just stake them and plant them deep up to their “chins” at final planting in straw bales or grow bags. Plant very little in the ground. Other methods are easier on the back in the long run.

[TomHillbilly]

@Gardadore-----I looked at Esmeralda Golosina. It left more more puzzled, than satisfied. If the descriptions are true, it should be more popular than it is. Unless the color, or size, is a drawback to some people. Neither matter to me. I shy from the larger fruit, later producing varieties. Esmeralda is neither. Most describe the taste as "interestingly sweet."  Those are the trigger words, that peak my interests. Its way more popular in Europe, than here in the states. I put it into my "tomato must be researched file". Meaning if the "Lord Be Willing"--- come next winter, and I feel I can garden another year. This variety will be researched as a new experimental variety candidate. I'm not saying I will try it, for sure. But I will spend a whole day, while the weather has me shut in-- investigating it. That is a pretty rare variety. PS--But I only plant in the ground. I have plenty of space for it.

[Cole_Robbie]

@Gardadore-----I looked at Esmeralda Golosina. It left more more puzzled, than satisfied. If the descriptions are true, it should be more popular than it is. Unless the color, or size, is a drawback to some people. Neither matter to me. I shy from the larger fruit, later producing varieties. Esmeralda is neither. Most describe the taste as "interestingly sweet."  Those are the trigger words, that peak my interests. Its way more popular in Europe, than here in the states. I put it into my "tomato must be researched file". Meaning if the "Lord Be Willing"--- come next winter, and I feel I can garden another year. This variety will be researched as a new experimental variety candidate. I'm not saying I will try it, for sure. But I will spend a whole day, while the weather has me shut in-- investigating it. That is a pretty rare variety. PS--But I only plant in the ground. I have plenty of space for it.

I like Esmeralda. You might also consider Brad's Atomic Grape. Dwarf Jade Beauty was my favorite gwr dwarf. They are all very sweet but Jade Beauty was like a tropical fruit to me. I don't grow green when ripe tomatoes any more, because they don't sell. Even when I give people one for free and they taste it and say it is delicious, they will then tell me that they just can't deal with it being green and don't buy any.

[Gardadore]

Again Esmeralda Golosina is proving my point about growing faster and taller than the others. I topped off a lot of tomato plants today in my 18oz cups. Esmeralda was the tallest by far and I have 5 examples so it isn’t a one off.
I use this tomato mainly for oven drying. My husband loves the flavor when they get so condensed. It’s a shame the psychological factor plays such a role with the green when ripe tomatoes. They are among our favorites for intense flavor!

[Nan6b]

I have loved the flavor of the greens I've tasted, but it's hard to get past the color.

[bboomer]

What a great video! I've been starting seeds indoors for years and burying leggy seedlings deep in potting mix, but watching her bend the seedlings in half was eye opening. Three cheers