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Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

I bought some tomatoes that weren't worth buying, only becuz they were a variety that I needed to grow. How can I turn these plants around and make em worthy of growing?
Also any advice on how to speed em up so I dont have to wait till end of august?

5/17/2010 9:27:47 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

If they are not bug-infested and diseased... Uppot them into a better growing mix and give them a few weeks of TLC (lights or otherwise treat them like little seedlings) then harden them off again. Give them 3-4 days after transplant and feed them some half strength kelp OR some half strength Extreme Blend. When watering, soak well and let them sit to soak in bottom catch pan for 20 min, then remove and let drain well and let them get a bit dry between (I water about 3 times a week for indoors past 4 true leaves). If there are yellowed, beat up, half dead, bottom leaves, you can remove the bottom most few as well; try not to take more than 1/3 of the plant leaves. Bury when you repot, to at least the cot leaves, pinch off the cots and bury. You can go up to where the next leaf shows up. Speeding them up is keeping them warmer at night and protected from sun and wind scalding. Good luck!

5/17/2010 3:38:29 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Deb, as the recognized mater master here as of late, I got a question. I see at all the big box stores...lots of mater plants from Bonnie!!! They have, or at least used to have (I have not read the lables lately, or for that matter, bought any in years) lable directions that say to strip main stem if leaves and bury 40% of vine!!! Could this process, help Aaron out in his quest to have maters to eat? Thanks for all yer help. Peace, Wayne

5/17/2010 11:48:31 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Wayne, I said sorta to do that. Bonnie is a major wholesaler/rearing supply... heh.

If you uppot from seedlings you start yourself or get a plant that has the cot leaves still there, bury to at least the cots. Next uppot bury to first leaves. If planting out you can go to those first leaves. :) It also will help you tame a leggy/legging plant.

5/18/2010 1:02:44 AM

Long Island,New York

Wayne. Strip the leaves a few days before you plan to plant so the wounds can scar up. After you strip place plant on its side- the next few days while the wounds heal the plants growing tip will turn upwards towards the sun ending up with a right angle plant or a plant with a long stem paralell to the ground and a growing tip going 90 degrees upwards. Now plant the plant in the soil with just the growing tip showing but set it so that the burried part isn't where you walk around the plant. Roots will develope all along the burried stem giving you a bigger boost.

5/18/2010 6:18:39 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

LI, or Deb, as I strip these leaves prior to planting, should I or could I, paint em w/ Clonex? Peace, Wayne

5/18/2010 9:10:44 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

You don't have to but if you have it, you can dab the leaf stump spot with the clonex if you plant it freshly picked off. Usually just bury the stem and it grows more roots!

Glenn's method works great if you have a big ol tall plant you want to turn into a true giantmaker :) I will be doing this with two of my mama plants (sucker farms) soon, and will take and post pictures of it.

5/18/2010 10:19:27 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Thanks to G, and Deb...you's guys's are a true gem on this site!!! Might be the first compliment I have ever given G!!! LOL Serious tho...you are both here when serious questions are asked!!! Thanks, again!!! Peace, Wayne

5/19/2010 9:58:16 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Wayne:
Last year it was the Bonnie plants that came with late blight already on them. I feel certain they will be alright this year but I would watch them closely.
Marv

5/19/2010 11:54:23 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

They weren't from bonnie, they were from a garden center that used some cheap but soil. I have followed the advice and hope they improve.

5/20/2010 9:48:41 AM