Some of mine (mortgage lifters) have leaves that are kinda yellowish .
These were planted late Jan , moved from starter cells into 4" round pots a
month or so ago . Last frost is still 3-4 weeks away . I've kept them moist
, daily watering quantity adjusted for how dry they were . These were moved
into the little greenhouse/hot box a few days ago , night time temps have
been 40° or higher . We did have like 3 days of rain . I open the windows on
top of the box during the day to prevent overheating unless it's raining
(the plants are right under the drip line of the roof) .
Anybody care to venture a guess why ?
--
Snag

On Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at 11:14:26 PM UTC-4, Terry Coombs wrote:
Some of mine (mortgage lifters) have leaves that are kinda yellowish .
These were planted late Jan , moved from starter cells into 4" round pots a
month or so ago . Last frost is still 3-4 weeks away . I've kept them moist
, daily watering quantity adjusted for how dry they were . These were moved
into the little greenhouse/hot box a few days ago , night time temps have
been 40° or higher . We did have like 3 days of rain . I open the windows on
top of the box during the day to prevent overheating unless it's raining
(the plants are right under the drip line of the roof) .
Anybody care to venture a guess why ?
--
Snag

Did you harden them off or just pop them into the cold frame? If not hardened they can show yellowing from differences of temp, light or they could merely be over-watered. You've got plenty of time to start new ones.
Steve

Steve Peek wrote:
On Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at 11:14:26 PM UTC-4, Terry Coombs wrote:
Some of mine (mortgage lifters) have leaves that are kinda yellowish
. These were planted late Jan , moved from starter cells into 4"
round pots a month or so ago . Last frost is still 3-4 weeks away .
I've kept them moist , daily watering quantity adjusted for how dry
they were . These were moved into the little greenhouse/hot box a
few days ago , night time temps have been 40° or higher . We did
have like 3 days of rain . I open the windows on top of the box
during the day to prevent overheating unless it's raining (the
plants are right under the drip line of the roof) . Anybody care
to venture a guess why ? --
Snag

Did you harden them off or just pop them into the cold frame? If not
hardened they can show yellowing from differences of temp, light or
they could merely be over-watered. You've got plenty of time to start
new ones.
Steve

Just put them out there , no hardening off . Not likely they've been
overwatered , I'm careful to only water when the soil is dry a half inch
down . I think they'll make it , I really wanted to get a head start this
year . Last year the seedlings were puny and weak ... I guess going from a
uniform 70°-80° temp environment to night time lows in the 40's is the cause
.. They're still sturdy and not showing any real signs of distress other than
a slight yellowing of (mainly) the lower leaves . Everything else seems to
be doing well . They for sure get better light out there than they did
inside , one window 3' wide and nobody got more than a half-days sun . The
grow light helped , but still , there's nothing quite like real sunlight .
Thanks Steve !
--
Snag

On Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at 12:18:29 PM UTC-4, Terry Coombs wrote:
Steve Peek wrote:
On Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at 11:14:26 PM UTC-4, Terry Coombs wrote:
Some of mine (mortgage lifters) have leaves that are kinda yellowish
. These were planted late Jan , moved from starter cells into 4"
round pots a month or so ago . Last frost is still 3-4 weeks away .
I've kept them moist , daily watering quantity adjusted for how dry
they were . These were moved into the little greenhouse/hot box a
few days ago , night time temps have been 40° or higher . We did
have like 3 days of rain . I open the windows on top of the box
during the day to prevent overheating unless it's raining (the
plants are right under the drip line of the roof) . Anybody care
to venture a guess why ? --
Snag

Did you harden them off or just pop them into the cold frame? If not
hardened they can show yellowing from differences of temp, light or
they could merely be over-watered. You've got plenty of time to start
new ones.
Steve

Just put them out there , no hardening off . Not likely they've been
overwatered , I'm careful to only water when the soil is dry a half inch
down . I think they'll make it , I really wanted to get a head start this
year . Last year the seedlings were puny and weak ... I guess going from a
uniform 70°-80° temp environment to night time lows in the 40's is the cause
. They're still sturdy and not showing any real signs of distress other than
a slight yellowing of (mainly) the lower leaves . Everything else seems to
be doing well . They for sure get better light out there than they did
inside , one window 3' wide and nobody got more than a half-days sun . The
grow light helped , but still , there's nothing quite like real sunlight ..
Thanks Steve !
--
Snag

No problem, they'll most likely grow out of whatever their problem might be..

Terry Coombs wrote:
Some of mine (mortgage lifters) have leaves that are kinda yellowish .
These were planted late Jan , moved from starter cells into 4" round pots a
month or so ago . Last frost is still 3-4 weeks away . I've kept them moist
, daily watering quantity adjusted for how dry they were . These were moved
into the little greenhouse/hot box a few days ago , night time temps have
been 40° or higher . We did have like 3 days of rain . I open the windows on
top of the box during the day to prevent overheating unless it's raining
(the plants are right under the drip line of the roof) .
Anybody care to venture a guess why ?

too many possibilities to get it in one.

moving them can be a shock, overnight lows can be too
low, starting mix may be exhausted of nutrients, too much
water, too little water, normal die off of bottom leaves...

if they get leggy and tall with no bottom leaves just
bury them more deeply when you plant them in the gardens
they'll root at the nodes of the stem and you'll have
better drought protection.


songbird

songbird wrote:
Terry Coombs wrote:
Some of mine (mortgage lifters) have leaves that are kinda
yellowish . These were planted late Jan , moved from starter cells
into 4" round pots a month or so ago . Last frost is still 3-4 weeks
away . I've kept them moist , daily watering quantity adjusted for
how dry they were . These were moved into the little greenhouse/hot
box a few days ago , night time temps have been 40° or higher . We
did have like 3 days of rain . I open the windows on top of the box
during the day to prevent overheating unless it's raining (the
plants are right under the drip line of the roof) . Anybody care
to venture a guess why ?

too many possibilities to get it in one.

moving them can be a shock, overnight lows can be too
low, starting mix may be exhausted of nutrients, too much
water, too little water, normal die off of bottom leaves...

if they get leggy and tall with no bottom leaves just
bury them more deeply when you plant them in the gardens
they'll root at the nodes of the stem and you'll have
better drought protection.


songbird

OK , in order :
Moving/overnight lows are suspected ... starting mix is supposed to be
good for 3 months or more , it's time release . Over/underwatering is
probably not it , I have been very careful with that - if that were the
cause it would be more than just the one variety of tomatoes , it'd be
everything . Normal die off is maybe part of it , lower leaves are more
affected . All of my seedlings are compact and stocky , I think because of
the continuous air movement from the ceiling fan and the grow light that I
had above them . Tomatoes will be planted deep , that's just SOP .
Reduced sunlight because of all the cloudy/rainy days might be partly
responsible since the grow light isn't on them , I dunno . Their day was
also shortened when they went out , I had the light on for 16 hours a day .
Cha-cha-cha-changes , but at least this weeds out the weak .

--
Snag

Once upon a time on usenet Terry Coombs wrote:
songbird wrote:
Terry Coombs wrote:
Some of mine (mortgage lifters) have leaves that are kinda
yellowish . These were planted late Jan , moved from starter cells
into 4" round pots a month or so ago . Last frost is still 3-4 weeks
away . I've kept them moist , daily watering quantity adjusted for
how dry they were . These were moved into the little greenhouse/hot
box a few days ago , night time temps have been 40° or higher . We
did have like 3 days of rain . I open the windows on top of the box
during the day to prevent overheating unless it's raining (the
plants are right under the drip line of the roof) . Anybody care
to venture a guess why ?

too many possibilities to get it in one.

moving them can be a shock, overnight lows can be too
low, starting mix may be exhausted of nutrients, too much
water, too little water, normal die off of bottom leaves...

if they get leggy and tall with no bottom leaves just
bury them more deeply when you plant them in the gardens
they'll root at the nodes of the stem and you'll have
better drought protection.


songbird

OK , in order :
Moving/overnight lows are suspected ... starting mix is supposed to
be good for 3 months or more , it's time release .

Tomato plants are gross feeders though and pull nutrients out of the media
at an alarming rate. Also the claimed 3 months may be marketing...

If I see yellowing of (especially lower) tomato leaves it screams out
'deficiencies' to me. Often nitrogen but sometimes iron / magnesium. I add a
good liquid fert with trace elements to their water for a week or so and see
if it helps, then take it from there.

Over/underwatering
is probably not it , I have been very careful with that - if that
were the cause it would be more than just the one variety of tomatoes
, it'd be everything . Normal die off is maybe part of it , lower
leaves are more affected . All of my seedlings are compact and stocky
, I think because of the continuous air movement from the ceiling fan
and the grow light that I had above them . Tomatoes will be planted
deep , that's just SOP . Reduced sunlight because of all the
cloudy/rainy days might be partly responsible since the grow light
isn't on them , I dunno . Their day was also shortened when they went
out , I had the light on for 16 hours a day . Cha-cha-cha-changes ,
but at least this weeds out the weak .

Messing with photoperiod isn't a good idea generally but I think that, with
tomatoes it's not too big a deal. Still, in my book supplemental lighting
for plants destined to go outside should be about intensity rather than day
length.

Good luck!
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long, way when religious belief has a
cozy little classification in the DSM."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1)

~misfit~ wrote:
Once upon a time on usenet Terry Coombs wrote:
Terry Coombs wrote:
Some of mine (mortgage lifters) have leaves that are kinda
yellowish .
Tomato plants are gross feeders though and pull nutrients out of the
media at an alarming rate. Also the claimed 3 months may be
marketing...
If I see yellowing of (especially lower) tomato leaves it screams out
'deficiencies' to me. Often nitrogen but sometimes iron / magnesium.
I add a good liquid fert with trace elements to their water for a
week or so and see if it helps, then take it from there.

Well , now my hot box smells like a fish market ... today I mixed 2/3 cup
of fish emlsion with a gallon of water and gave everybody 1/3 cup of the
mixture . I figured it couldn't hurt .
--
Snag

On Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 7:19:19 PM UTC-4, Terry Coombs wrote:
~misfit~ wrote:
Once upon a time on usenet Terry Coombs wrote:
Terry Coombs wrote:
Some of mine (mortgage lifters) have leaves that are kinda
yellowish .
Tomato plants are gross feeders though and pull nutrients out of the
media at an alarming rate. Also the claimed 3 months may be
marketing...
If I see yellowing of (especially lower) tomato leaves it screams out
'deficiencies' to me. Often nitrogen but sometimes iron / magnesium.
I add a good liquid fert with trace elements to their water for a
week or so and see if it helps, then take it from there.

Well , now my hot box smells like a fish market ... today I mixed 2/3 cup
of fish emlsion with a gallon of water and gave everybody 1/3 cup of the
mixture . I figured it couldn't hurt .
--
Snag

Wow! I normally mix a couple of tablespoons to the gallon. I hope it doesn't burn.

Steve Peek wrote:
On Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 7:19:19 PM UTC-4, Terry Coombs wrote:
~misfit~ wrote:
Once upon a time on usenet Terry Coombs wrote:
Terry Coombs wrote:
Some of mine (mortgage lifters) have leaves that are kinda
yellowish .
Tomato plants are gross feeders though and pull nutrients out of the
media at an alarming rate. Also the claimed 3 months may be
marketing...
If I see yellowing of (especially lower) tomato leaves it screams
out 'deficiencies' to me. Often nitrogen but sometimes iron /
magnesium. I add a good liquid fert with trace elements to their
water for a week or so and see if it helps, then take it from there.

Well , now my hot box smells like a fish market ... today I mixed
2/3 cup of fish emlsion with a gallon of water and gave everybody
1/3 cup of the mixture . I figured it couldn't hurt .
--
Snag

Wow! I normally mix a couple of tablespoons to the gallon. I hope it
doesn't burn.

A big part of the reason I used it is that it doesn't burn like other
stuff might . Followed up with a thorough watering today . Probably washed a
good part out , bet the soil under those sets will be fantastic for the
wildflowers I'll be planting there when the garden gets planted . I have
several bee-friendly plants that'll be going in at various places around the
property as soon as danger of frost is past .

--
Snag

In article
"Terry Coombs" writes:

Well , now my hot box smells like a fish market ... today I mixed 2/3 cup
of fish emlsion with a gallon of water and gave everybody 1/3 cup of the
mixture . I figured it couldn't hurt .

I tried fish emulsion inside two years ago. My wife let me live,
but I'm not sure I could get away with a second time.

Last year I bought the smallest package of Miracle Grow that I could
find. I mix it at half the recommended strength and use that to
water the tomato seedlings once they have true leaves.

If I live to a very old age, I'll probably still have 3/4 of that
package unused, so I don't feel too bad about compromising my "mostly
organic" standards (or about doing business with Scotts).


--
Drew Lawson | I'd like to find your inner child
| and kick its little ass