They're getting so tall! With neat little leaves!
this post was submitted on 26 Apr 2025
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Running a specialty grow without basic knowledge of plant physiology.... Yep checks out.
The reason they are so tall is because of low light levels. With lower light levels the interplant competition causes them to stretch taller. More space under the same light levels would have a much shorter plant.
So what they need, more light. Specifically hardening off outside would be best.
They also need to be knocked around a bit by wind or mechanically to trigger stem thickening and lignin formation.
FYI commercial transplanters for thousands of commercial hectares around the globe usually use a 256 cell tray. I have also seen them use a 512 tray.
It also doesn't matter if tomato transplants get root bound. They are stem rooters. Transplant a 8" tall seedling with 6" of the stem buried and the entire 6" of stem will form roots.
Also transplanting with a larger plant usually means more severe transplant shock. A smaller plant generally adapts faster, grows a more balanced root system and produces more.
Yup. These guys are stretching to find light, trying to be taller than their neighbors.
Indoor growers keep fans on to simulate wind and stimulate stem strength. I just put my sprouts in front of an open window and rotate once or twice a day so that they don't grow sideways.