My tomato seedlings are all dying!

[Pepper44]

I've never had problems with tomato seedlings before--in previous years they've all grown GREAT.

So this year I did everything I usually do. The only difference I can think of is that I used an organic seed starting soil mix from Lowes instead of dirt from the yard...

My other seedlings are doing fine, a few are leggy but they'll be ok. I have them under 100 watt (equivalent) compact florescent bulbs, and on the warm days (upper 50's, low 60's) I've been sitting them on my partially shaded front porch. Covered on the cooler days, uncovered on the warmer days.

The other day I noticed the tomato seedlings were turning a bit yellow at the edges of their leaves. I thought that meant they were too wet, so I backed off on watering them and let the soil get pretty much dried out. (But not too much!) Today I watered them again, and when I looked at them tonight they're all falling over and the leaves are falling off! What has gone wrong?? They're all brown/yellowing on the leaves.

I have more seeds, I can replant them...but I'm clueless as to what could have happened. They were so healthy and strong there for a few weeks.

[mindymom]

Well that is a mystery. Could it be damping off? Have you tried looking at the roots? How big were they?

[lmonter]

I'm guessing it's the stuff you bought from Lowe's. Part of why I make my seed starting mix - compost (from a bag, but I prefer the 'mushroom compost' I get from my local farm and feed store), peat moss and perlite that I mix up myself.

Last year there was an issue with Milestone - I wouldn't be surprised if it's still an issue.

[Ruthiegirl]

Have you fertilized them?

[goldfinches]

Originally Posted by Ruthiegirl

Have you fertilized them?

I have only seen once about fertilizing them, and probably wouldn't be able to find it again. How/when do you start this?

[Ruthiegirl]

Originally Posted by goldfinches

I have only seen once about fertilizing them, and probably wouldn't be able to find it again. How/when do you start this?

Once I see true leaves (not the first set of leaves which are the cotyledons), I start fertilizing with dilute fertilizer. My favorite is fish emulsion. I mix it at half or even at third strength and use it every time I water.

Some seedling mixes come with long term fertilizers incorporated in them. These DO NOT need to be fertilized. Just check the bag to see whether it has it or not.

I have used a homemade mix with peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite and fertilized when watering. I have also used Miracle-Gro mix which has fertilizer in it. Both options turn out good seedlings. But it is important that seedlings get the nutrients that they need. Yellow leaves can indicate a number of issues, nutrient deficiency being one of them.

[Pepper44]

Mine all died shortly after getting the second leaves! Maybe fertilizing is the problem!

I've never had to fertilize my seedlings in any years past, but before I've always just used dirt...which is full of chicken poop and stuff.

The odd thing is with this mix I got from Lowes (I think it was Jiffy or something, too pregnant and lazy to go look) my peppers are doing great--better than any other year ever. They're huge already and flourishing! But the tomatoes, cilantro, and broccoli are so sad or dead. I know I'm not doing anything "wrong" when it comes to light or watering, because I do the same thing every year, you know?

I guess it goes to show that there's no reason to waste money buying someone else's bagged mix when you could just use healthy dirt from the ground.

[Ruthiegirl]

Originally Posted by Pepper44

Mine all died shortly after getting the second leaves! Maybe fertilizing is the problem!

I've never had to fertilize my seedlings in any years past, but before I've always just used dirt...which is full of chicken poop and stuff.

The odd thing is with this mix I got from Lowes (I think it was Jiffy or something, too pregnant and lazy to go look) my peppers are doing great--better than any other year ever. They're huge already and flourishing! But the tomatoes, cilantro, and broccoli are so sad or dead. I know I'm not doing anything "wrong" when it comes to light or watering, because I do the same thing every year, you know?

I guess it goes to show that there's no reason to waste money buying someone else's bagged mix when you could just use healthy dirt from the ground.

Huh. Well, now I am really stumped. If the peppers are doing well then the soil is just fine and it would lead me to think that fertilizing is not the issue either.

I really have no idea what happened to the tomatoes. Do you have a cat? We had an old cat that used to pee on my plants.

But I really don't know what is going on. Time to replant and just move on I guess.

[Pepper44]

Originally Posted by Ruthiegirl

Huh. Well, now I am really stumped. If the peppers are doing well then the soil is just fine and it would lead me to think that fertilizing is not the issue either.

I really have no idea what happened to the tomatoes. Do you have a cat? We had an old cat that used to pee on my plants.

But I really don't know what is going on. Time to replant and just move on I guess.

I do have cats, four of them. We've had one season's seedlings ruined by cat pee before. These were safe up on a high shelf!

I decided to try to salvage the ones that were still semi-alive this afternoon. When I took them out of the little containers I realized that their roots were huge...all the way out of the bottom of the little things and searching for nutrients in the plastic tray. That might have been the problem!

I moved them all into a couple big flower pots with a mix dirt from my backyard and my chicken pen. Seedlings in previous years loved that dirt. Maybe they'll perk up! I'll plant some more tomato seeds in the next few days...this time right into my usual big pots.

I also went ahead and moved the peppers and they had much shorter roots. Do you think those little seed starting trays were just too small for the tomatoes? Anyway, I'll never bother with those trays again!

[ShwarmaQueen]

I'm not sure if a small container would be enough to kill the plant...perhaps...but I've always assumed the plant would just not grow much more if it reached the container limit.

Regardless, I hope that solves your problem and saves the tomatoes!

[Ruthiegirl]

Did the tomatoes make it? I am curious especially after I went to check my seedlings and found three of my tomatoes slumped over. I am potting things up today and hope to save them.

Fingers crossed.

[Ruthiegirl]

Originally Posted by Pepper44

I do have cats, four of them. We've had one season's seedlings ruined by cat pee before. These were safe up on a high shelf!

Good thinking. I don't know what it is about tomatoes, but cats always seemed particularly drawn to peeing on them. As much as I miss our cat, I do not miss his toilet habits.

[Pepper44]

Originally Posted by Ruthiegirl

Did the tomatoes make it? I am curious especially after I went to check my seedlings and found three of my tomatoes slumped over. I am potting things up today and hope to save them.

Fingers crossed.

Some of them are still alive! They look so so sad, lol, but they're not dead. They seemed to be hanging on now that they're in the pot. I'm going to start some new ones the next sunny day we have.

A big flower pot with press n' seal over the top really seems like the way to go! (And my cat can't pee through press n' seal, HAH.)