Good start. but need lots more light.

Good job! You can't overdo the light.

If you have a clam day (and if it going to be warm out, 45F or more) I'd start setting them outside in a protected location, hour a day to start. Make sure they don't dry out or get cold or get sunburn or .... More light and a little breeze would help toughen them up. IMO, younger plants seem to adapt to real weather easier than older plants (hardened off easier).

I'm starting a few Sudduth's Strain Brandywines this year (grew generic Brandywines in the past).

Thank you for the advice. I took this photo when the lighting was on dark part of the photoperiod cycle.

I read in a book that Sudduth's Strain Brandywine had superb taste, so I wanted to give it a try this year. I know, it's radical to be reading books but I'm an old f*rt.

Doing good. Looks like they will be ready for late April plant out.

The comments on the light were not because of the amount of light in the picture but that they are leggy. If you haven't repotted them recently you need to get some bigger cups and bury them up to the bottom set of leaves. Your lights need to be very close to the plants, like an inch or two so that they don't "reach". Also if you brush the tops with your fingers or put a fan on them it will help thicken up the stems. Other than that they look very healthy. Good luck!

Agree with Whosurtomato and Jean that your plants are leggy from insufficient light.

They need to be transplanted much deeper so that all that bare stem is buried. Then the amount of light needs to be increased substantially to prevent them turning weak and leggy again. If they were getting enough light intensity the stems would only be 1/3 as long.

Please note we aren't talking about the # of hours although 24 hours poses no problems but the intensity, the amount of lumens, they are getting. If the lights aren't just barely above the top of the plants and the intensity isn't enough then they stretch out their stems like that.

Dave

Thanks, everyone. I never really perceived there was a problem with my seedlings. However, I will try to give more light as best as my system will allow.

I never really perceived there was a problem with my seedlings.

Unfortunately most don't realize it until the leaves develop a bit more and become too heavy for the weak stem to support. The plants fall over and often the stem is damaged or broken.

That's why transplanting them deeply now, burying all the stretched stem, is important as it prevents that from happening. Plus it allows roots to develop all along the buried stem and strengthen the plant at the same time.

Dave.

if you have èlight handè using fork and lifting them out of the cup and burying deeper in same cup works wonders as well.