A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Food Garden Forum The Tomato Forum Here we go again..

I planted some tomato seeds indoors and they are about an inch and a half high. Today I noticed after watering the leaves seemed to have curled. What can that be?
Every year that I fail I tell myself, next year I'll be wiser, and grow some blue ribbon tomatos, well I never do. Something always goes wrong.
Any suggestions?

I have good luck by:

Planting 4 seeds in 5-6" containers leaving only the best two after 2" tall.
Getting the best soil I can find in those pots.
Not watering the leafs but only the soil when dry.
Placing the pots next to a South side window or slider WITH a 80W grow light day and night.

Thanks, that may be it. I probably poured water over the leaves. Maybe that is why they curled. Or it could be the soil, I've used more then one over the last couple of years. Don't know what it can be?

Yeah, careful with watering. It almost sounds, though, like the plants are drying out, are the leaves "crispy?" As for soik, you must use a seed starter mix, or a mix with no added fertilizer, seedlings do not need fert. at first.
Look into bottom watering, it's the best way to go.

I don't think they were drying out. The leaves were fine until I watered them.
They were never crispy.
Some but not all leaves are starting to flatten more.

I do have to admit that I used a vegetable soil to start the seedlings so maybe the soil has something to do with it?

Is it better to mini stake the seedlings to make them stronger, or do they go fatter and stronger without the little stakes? They now have their second to third set of leaves.

Ciao Daisy-

Do you have your plants under lights? The closer the light source to your seedlings, they stockier they'll be. If they're just in a window, they're not getting enough light so they start to stretch, looking for more.

I agree with "Sorellina". I start my seeds in a high quality seed starting mix under T5 HO fluorescent lights, and in 6 to 8 weeks they are 18" stocky plants. Adequate lighting is important for the strength of your plants. I live in a region with a very short growing season, so getting a head start on the late frost is critical.

I also agree with "peppereater." The only time I ever had curling leaves on my seedlings was when I tried to enhance the soil with fertilizer and/or heavily composted soil. The seedlings don't need any help to get started other than a good seed starting mix, a little moisture, and reasonable temperatures. After that, it's all about lighting.

This is the second year I'm having the same problem. Last year I bought a soil specifically for vegetable growing. I think this may be doing it as I used it this year and last. I think they enhanced it too much and while it may be good for a plant already set, I think it's destroying my little ones?. I live and learn...

I think you may be right. If I have the same problem for two years in a row, I try to find the common denominator, and it already sounds like it could be a soil problem. I try not to recommend specific brands, but I have always had great luck with Whitney Farms seed Starting Mix. I'm sure that other high quality brands of seed starting mixes would provide the same benefits.

Thanks, I'll try to remember "Whitney Farm" for next year.

rockwool cubes or coir also is good for seed starting both hold moisture well.