I planted Roma tomatoes earlier this year. They are growing ever so slowly. The peas are nearly 2.5 ft high, the burgundy beans are in flower, and everything else seems to be doing fine. The tomatoes though are just hanging out at about 6 in high and don’t seem to be interested in getting much taller. I don’t know what is wrong with them, they get loads of sun, watered regularly, and have been fertilized once. Other than the fact that I grew them from seed, I can’t figure out what their problem is. They are about the same size as the larger seedlings you’d buy at the garden center. Anyone know how long those little buggers take to start chugging along?
The watermelons are slower than I recall as well, but they are much younger than the tomatoes, by about 3 weeks, so I’m not too worried about them.
I’m in Kissimmee fl, The garden has southern exposure, and the top foot of soil is comprised of potting soil, mixed with organic cow poop compost.
We had snow here this weekend, and you’re complaining that your tomatoes are dawdling? I’m having trouble feeling sorry for you.
We grew tomatoes from seed one year. I recall that they sort of stalled at the stage you describe, and only later began growing like the weeds they are at heart. I think they’re busy growing down (i.e., growing a robust root system) at this stage, rather than putting energy into upward growth.
How old are your plants? What are you using to fertilize them, and when did you last fertilize them? We had great success with Miracle-Gro for tomatoes.
Well Florida is Florida, heh. Good point about the root systems, they did this once before at the seedling stage. After they grew a few sets or normal leaves they stalled for about 2 weeks only to pop up to their current size quite quickly. They might be doing it again.
Initially they got a dose of miracle-grow quick start which definitely assisted post germination. Yesterday they received osmocote’s vegetable and tomato formula which ought to last them for a month or two. I’m leery of over-fertilizing seedlings, so I went with rich compost instead until yesterday. I can’t imagine they were starved for nutrients though.
Good point about the root systems, they did this once before at the seedling stage. After they grew a few sets or normal leaves they stalled for about 2 weeks only to pop up to their current size quite quickly. They might be doing it again.