Slow them down!!

11 years ago

Hi all, got a little problem. The tomato plants (Big Beef F1) are growing like crazy under lights. They're three times the size they should be and there's still a month to go before plant out. The Black Cherry plants are fine and growing at their usual rate but the Big Beef act like they're on steroids. Both were started at the same time and both kept under the same lighting. I've grown from seed for quite a few years and never had plants take off like this. Only thing I can think of is to keep them really cool for a couple more weeks and take the chance of planting out mid-May. The Black Cherry isn't root bound, just plugging along.

When transplanted the Big Beef was the same size as the Black Cherry. This rapid growth happened after transplanting into Miracle Gro potting mix.

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Comments (6)

daniel_nyc
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I never
used Miracle
Gro potting mix, but I read here that
many are UNHAPPY with the product.

I
use Ocean Forest Mix Organic Potting Soil (FoxFarm) and I’m very happy.
wormgirl_8a_WA
11 years ago
It's probably the fertilizer in the potting mix you used. Have you used this kind of mix before?

Just my opinion, but I tried the Ocean Forest mix last year and was just as unhappy as I have been with Miracle Gro - for the same reasons - it doesn't drain well. But I am in the soggy, cool PNW so perhaps that explains the difference in performance for us. I'm now using a "quickie 5:1:1" mix with Gardener & Bloome Planting Mix (for raised beds) and perlite. Plants are much happier this year.
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Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
11 years ago
Both were started at the same time
*****************************************************
When was that ?
Different varieties have different growth rate. I have found BrBoy to be the fastest growing. 4th of July the slowest.

Sey
daniel_nyc
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
seyson is
right: “Different
varieties have different growth rate.”

The San
Marzano on the right is less than 3 in. high, while the Beefsteak (1) is almost
8 in. high. Yes, the seed were planted at the same time, and the growing
conditions were identical.
jbann23
Original Author
11 years ago
Those two plants were started on April 30, that's only a month ago. The Big Beef were transplanted one week ago and shot right up, no shock whatsoever. I've moved the Big Beef to the front porch where it's cool and shady just to slow them down for a couple of weeks while I harden them off. Have used the Miracle Gro for years with good luck. It's true that Black Cherry starts out a lot slower than others but this is quite drastic. Thought you all would get a kick out of this.
Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
11 years ago
Ibann ... I am sure you meant March 30th.
I think that Black cherry has close to normal growth in 4 weeks. But definitely Big Beef has grown out of ordinary.

I have an unknown variety ( came out of dwarf seeds pack ) that is almost 20 inches high where other indets sowed and planted out at the same time are under 12". .
I have planted big beef ( Bonnie seedling) it is doing fine so far but not out of ordinary. Hope yours will be real productive too.

Sey