BTW, I posted a link to flikr for photos of the blistering

GM

That's just roots trying to form on the stems. If you haven't hardened them off and aren't ready to plant them out yet, you need to bury them in a deep container up to the leaves. Those bumps will grow into roots. They're called adventitious roots and some varieties of tomatoes develop them more readily than others.

Not to worry, but you do need to repot your plants into deeper containers.

My Chris Ukrainian seedlings are just over 6 weeks old and already have buds getting ready to open and warts on the lower stem. Even earlier than my Tiny Tims.

Yeah it would be great for them if you could transplant them much deeper than they are now. But if they will be going to the garden soon just trench them in deeply so that only the very top set of leaves is above ground.

Dave

Great question gardenmartina! You learn something new everyday around here. :)

Dave, how soon is soon? I'm about 2 weeks out from planting and also have those blisters on several seedlings. Some of my plants are really tall (almost too tall, and a few have suckers forming), so potting up wouldn't be a bad idea, but is it ok to pot up now, only to start hardening off in a week, with them going out in the garden the following week? I wasn't sure if that was too much stress in such a short period of time.

Thanks!

You asked " is it ok to pot up now, only to start hardening off in a week, ..."

Yes.

but is it ok to pot up now, only to start hardening off in a week, with them going out in the garden the following week?

Close but still ok. Better to repot now if needed than to leave them rootbound in too small a container for two more weeks.

Dave

Thank you, both. They are in 16oz cups, which I thought would be large enough to last me until it was time to plant out. I didn't expect them to get this tall...perhaps I should have used that fan after all! :)