Tomato Dirt Newsletter
Volume 2, Number 4: Issue #20

Top 4 Things Tomato Seedlings Need to Be Healthy and Grow

When tomato seedlings pop through your potting soil, the whole game changes. It’s a lot like what happens when you bring a new baby home from the hospital. Your new sprouts require lots of TLC.

There are 4 secrets to growing tomato seedlings successfully:

1. Light: let there be lots of it! Seedlings need 12-18 hours of light each day. Do yourself a favor and give it to them. Otherwise they will become leggy and weak very quickly.
2. Water. Water your tomato seedlings enough so that you don’t let the potting mix dry out or seedlings wilt – and make sure to water from the bottom.
3. Air. Keep room temperature consistent, about 70°F.
4. Nutrients. Look out for yellowing leaves, which indicate the need for food. If possible, wait until your seedlings have at least 2-3 sets of leaves before feeding.

When should you re-pot seedlings?

• seedlings have two sets of true leaves
• the second set of leaves is at least 2 inches long

More on repotting tomato seedlings ...

How's your soil?

Where to find tomato seedlings and seeds ...

Hybrid Tomato Varieties

For hybrid tomato seeds, we recommend Burpee, a leading home gardening and seed company since 1881. Shop Burpee.com for Tomatoes


That’s it for now. More next time!

Until then, happy gardening!

Kathy with Tomato Dirt
www.tomatodirt.com
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P.S. As you choose which tomato varieties to grow in 2012, make sure you consider which ones grow best in your climate. Check out these tomato variety lists to help.

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