Do tomato seedlings need to be thinned out?

Tomatoes can be a bit finicky even for the best of growers. We like to thin our seedlings to give our 'maters a boost in their infancy. While it might feel counterintuitive to tear out the little seedlings, removing excess tomato seedlings will allow each plant sufficient space, sunlight, and nutrients to grow.

What happens if you don't thin tomato seedlings?

When left un-thinned, seedlings that are in tight quarters will compete with one another for nutrients, water, air, and root space. Those are not things you want to deprive your seedlings of! In addition to concerns about competition, crowding seedlings also increases the risk for disease.

Can you replant thinned tomato seedlings?

Thin stemmed seedlings don't transplant well outside because they aren't strong enough to withstand the elements. If the stem tapers as you get closer to the soil line this is an indication of inconsistent watering (over or under) and again is a sign it should be snipped.

Do tomatoes need to be thinned?

If you haven't thinned and the tomato fruit has already been developing for 2 to 3 weeks or even longer, it still benefits to do fruit thinning. The lower one or two fruit can still be removed (Picture 2). Thinning the rest of fruit clusters will depend on the time available to a grower.

Can you replant thinned seedlings?

You may be able to transplant some of the seedlings if you are careful not to disturb the roots too much when you move them. If you wait until your beet, rutabaga, and turnip greens are a few inches tall before you thin them, you can eat them, baby roots included.

How To Thin Tomato Seedlings

How big should your tomato seedlings be before transplanting?

Tomatoes are ready for transplanting into the garden when the seedlings are 3 to 4 inches tall, and the nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees.

How do you keep tomato seedlings from getting leggy?

What size should seedlings be before transplanting?

Before you Transplant. As noted above, make sure that your seedling is about 2-3 inches high before transplanting. We also recommend transplanting a seedling after its two "true leaves" first come out. True leaves are the leaves that grow after the initial seed's cotyledon leaves come out.

How do you take care of a tomato seedling?

Tomato seeds kept at warm room temperature and sprayed with water twice daily should sprout within a week. As soon as the seedlings break the surface, move them to bright light. A full-spectrum grow-light is ideal, but a sunny window will do provided the seedlings are watched closely to make sure they don't dry out.

Do all seedlings need to be thinned?

Thinning seedlings is a necessary evil when they become overcrowded. But proper spacing is crucial for growing healthy plants. So, even though it can be really hard, it's very important to learn how to thin out your seedlings.

What happens if seeds are planted too close together?

Crowded plants not only discourage growth, they encourage pests and disease. Crowded seedlings shade each other from the sun. As they get larger, it only gets worse. Crowded root vegetables, including turnips, beets, and radishes, won't develop useable roots if they're crowded.

Will leggy tomato seedlings survive?

If you have leggy tomato seedlings, the best way to correct them is to repot the seedlings (or transplant them) and bury the stems up to the lowest set of leaves. Not only will this fix any problems with legginess, it's a recommended practice to strengthen tomato stems and help their roots form more mass.

Should you pinch tomato seedlings?

It's OK to pinch back indeterminate tomato plants as needed to shape them and keep them under control. Some gardeners pinch back the “suckers” that grow in the bend between a branch and the main stem, which results in larger tomatoes but fewer total tomatoes produced.

How do you make tomato seedlings stronger?

Brushing plants helps them grow stronger, stockier (though shorter), and more able to withstand transplanting into the garden. You can help strengthen a growing tomato plant by making it move! There are two ways you can give your tomatoes a workout: brush them and blow air on them.

Why are my tomato plants tall and leggy?

If your tomato plants look tall but have long gaps between each leaf node, you've got leggy tomato plants. Leggy tomatoes are always caused by a lack of adequate light. If you've started tomato seedlings on a windowsill with indirect light, you've probably experienced this already before.

Why are my tomato seedlings bending over?

Seedlings will do what is necessary to get enough light. If light is stronger in one direction, a seedling will lean over and grow towards the light. This can give it a bent over appearance, making it look like the seedling is falling over. Without enough sunlight, seedlings will get tall and may bend over.

Can you plant two tomato plants together?

Some determinate tomato varieties are bred to be smaller, and these can be planted more closely together; varieties labeled as compact or dwarf can be planted as closely as 12 inches apart. Indeterminate tomato varieties are vining plants that continue growing until pruned or until they are killed by frost.

How much space do you need between tomato plants?

“Tomatoes require plenty of room to grow well,” write the UC ANR advisors. They recommend spacing tomato plants two feet or more apart.