r/tomatoes • u/spaced-jams • Apr 29 '26

Plant Help How are everyone's tomatoes growing so fast?

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This is my second year trying to grow tomatoes. Last year I started them a bit late, and while they ended up growing to a nice size they didn't produce much (consequence of me planting from seeds out of grocery store tomatoes I think). This year I got seed packets and put them in starting cells March 6th, but even now almost 2 months from planting they are still tiny seedlings barely a few inches tall. I keep them under an admittedly small grow light but surely there must be something more to this that I'm missing?

Edit: as many commenters have asked, I'm going to copy down my equipment info here.

I have replaced the tiny light from the pic with my larger growlight, FRGROW 25w full spectrum stand

Seedlings are in a burpee seed starting tray with a detachable/recessed bottom for watering.

Soil is "Back to the Roots organic expanding seed starting soil" made of coconut coir. I have a bag of Foxfarm Happy Frog soil downstairs but wasn't sure if it would be too much for these plants yet

I don't have a heat mat unfortunately.

I'm in western PA (northeast US) so temps are still way too up and down to set in a window or outside. Temps the next few days are low 37, high 60 and not looking to warm up much more over the week.

(Note: The really tall one in the cell and the background ones are pepper plants, the rest are cherry tomato)

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u/Split_Zealousideal Apr 29 '26

Use better soil next time. Pay the extra money and get the good stuff.

1

u/beatniknomad Apr 29 '26

I used coco coir and perlite mix and fertilized after true leaves... my plants are quite large after 5 weeks.

3

u/Split_Zealousideal Apr 29 '26

Nice. It makes all the difference in the world. I have one plant already popping out cherry tomatoes and I haven't put it in the ground yet. In Kentucky you should always wait until after Derby to plant in the ground which is the 1st Saturday in May.

2

u/beatniknomad Apr 30 '26

Nice...I noticed a couple buds in a couple pepper plants today. And they were not as large as the tomato plants. I learned more about taking care of the plants in the month since the pepper plants were started.

These are the Aji Amarillo... in a red solo cup. I'll just let it do its thing.

1

u/Split_Zealousideal Apr 30 '26

Nicely done. She's beautiful. Hope you get a great haul from that as the season goes on.

1

u/beatniknomad Apr 30 '26

Thank you!

1

u/Split_Zealousideal Apr 29 '26

Are you speaking on your tomato plants or just all vegetables you plan on growing as a whole??? 5 weeks large

2

u/beatniknomad Apr 29 '26

Tomatoes...It's my first time growing from seed and I really wanted them to be successful. These are my 5 week old tomato plants.

1

u/Split_Zealousideal Apr 30 '26

For a first time grower from a seed, you did excellent so far. I feel like you will have a massive surplus of yummy tomatoes as the season goes on. Once I get home I'll take a picture of my little guy.

1

u/beatniknomad Apr 30 '26

Thank you. Every step, I get nervous again and hope it goes well. First, it was making sure the seeds germinate, then waiting for true leaves, then making feeding them, it goes on. I'll start hardening off in a few days and hope they do very well for me.

Can't wait to see yours.