Comments on: Happy Tomato Plants

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 16:15:07 +0000

If you planted your seeds as you were directed, and the plants still seems to be growing poorly, it has no ‘vigor’, then what is advised is to “brush” your plants. According to RODALE’S ‘Garden Problem Solver’, “Research has shown that some form of mechanically induced stress caused by lightly brushing or rubbing the seedlings for a minute or so every day will produce stockier, strong plants more resistant to transplant shock. Smaller seedlings can be brushed with a piece of paper folded over. Gently brush the plants so they bend over almost to horizontal, then let them spring back. As the plants get larger, simply brushing them lightly with you hand achieves the same result.” That quote was on page 493. I never had a chance to try this method, it is certainly a hopeful method to bring your ailing plants back to health, but certainly I would try to take care of the plants so they do not need to be coaxed back to health.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 15:44:08 +0000

You’ve got a method for hardening tomato plants but that is just too much work for me! All plants grown indoors HAVE TO BE hardened-off for their life outdoors otherwise they may be permanently stunted in their growth, therefore they are not going to produce what they are capable of producing. You have to climatize your plants by letting them get used to the outside slowly. One hour a day, then two, then three then so on. They should be climatized to the outdoors in two weeks. It is worth the time and effort, especially if you took the time to grow your plants by seed.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 31 May 2006 17:51:34 +0000

I was happy to see this information on your site. My mother came to visit me in March when my seedlings were about 2 inches tall (zone 7) and she told me I should “pat” the tops everyday. I thought she was a bit nuts, but I did it and it worked. Thanks for validating my mother’s wisdom.

By: Ellen

Ellen — Tue, 09 May 2006 04:10:57 +0000

I’ve never heard this before but love the idea! I admit it’s been a few years since I started my own tomato seeds. I’ve been lazy and buying plants at the local nursery. I need to get a jumpstart in January/February (out on the west coast) for seedlings and I’m just not mentally prepared!