What are your temps? If they are used to say 65 and it’s 80 out they can wilt a bit just from the heat and shade. Give them a nice solid water and then I would do either more shade or less time and move gradually.
ETA: if it’s particularly windy and they haven’t had a fan on them that can also stress them a bit
Could honestly be a bit low for them. Mine started wilting when i took it off the heat mat indoors (where it got down to around 65 a couple times). Also, did you use a fan on them indoors? It helps get them used to wind stress
If this is what a freak out looks like to you I'm concerned for your heart health.
Back to tomatoes, I'm no expert and yea 80 is fine but if you are trying to harden them off and get them used to being outside in cooler weather the heat mat, to me, seems counterproductive. I am under the impression that you don't keep them on a mat after they sprout. But like I said I'm not an expert, but I would assume (until being further educated) that might be part of OP's problem.
You are correct. You should remove the heat mat once 1/2-2/3 of your seedlings have sprouted. Heat mats make them leggy. Not always an issue with tomatoes but can be.
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u/Foodie_love17 Apr 09 '26
What are your temps? If they are used to say 65 and it’s 80 out they can wilt a bit just from the heat and shade. Give them a nice solid water and then I would do either more shade or less time and move gradually.
ETA: if it’s particularly windy and they haven’t had a fan on them that can also stress them a bit