The first picture I'm showing you today serves as a reminder of what the tomato plants looked like on the 14th of March. I took this picture then, and blogged it the following day.
And the picture below, I took today.
Once the tomatoes are transplanted into the larger containers, their little roots spread out and start to grow beneath the soil. At the same time, their tops begin to grow and spread out as well.
In only 10 days they have tripled in size.
At this stage, they are getting cooler temps, lots of light and good food. In a modified version of feeding the baby with an eyedropper, these little tots get their feedings from a turkey baster!
Rich uses a granulated fertilizer mixed in warm tap water to feed each plant. The turkey baster works perfectly as he doesn't over water them, and with them being so close to the light right now, it is easier to use as well.
Now you may have noticed that the ones he is feeding don't look quite as big as the second picture. If you did, you are quite right. The second picture was of plants in blue cups, the Goliath variety that he loves so well.
The plants in the red cups are a mix of heirloom varieties.
The heirloom varieties, are smaller still, and less robust. It is one reason Rich doesn't care for these old fashioned tomatoes. The plants require much more care to keep them going, and they do not mature as quickly as the newer generations of plants.
Eventually they will catch up, but for right now, they are the runts in the bunch, inspite of the fact they are getting the very same care and conditions as the blue cup bunch.
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