Leggy Tomato seedlings

[mm12463]

This is my first year growing tomatoes from seedlings. I am coming up on 4 weeks and the seedlings are about 5" tall and leggy. Some of them are falling over. I started them in a small individual cell pack. I have 36 plants. Please help and let me know what to do.

Mike

[Dexterdoglancashire]

I would put in one of those thin green sticks you can buy from the garden centre or where ever and fasten the stem to it with some garden wire/tie stuff. It sounds like your toms are doing great! Mine are still only a few inches tall.
Best wishes
Dexterdog

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Mike! You need to transplant your tomato seedlings from the cells into individual four inch pots. When you transplant them hold them by a leaf not the stem and plant them deeper so that part of the stem is under the compost. The tomato plants will throw out roots from the stems and this will help strengthen them.

[mm12463]

Thanks Dexterdog and Lesley. I will get going with them tomorrow

Cheers
Mike

[Dexterdoglancashire]

Thanks for that Lesley, this year is the first year Ive tried growing toms from seed. I didnt realise about holding the leaf part - I knew not to damage the roots but not that bit.
Dexterdog

[Lorraine]

Mike - as a matter of interest, where are your tomato plants standing ? Are they in greenhouse, indoors, or in the garden? I ask because they can get very leggy if they aren't getting enough light.