Hey guys!

I have these tomatoes i germinated and sprouted from a heating mat and grow light. I plant on moving them into a bigger, individual pot. I'm just curious if these sprouts are supposed to be this thin? Am I doing something wrong? What should I change?


Love all the feedback from everyone! Y'all really are such an amazing community!

No, they should be thicker. They need much more light. As soon as you see green popping up through the soil they need lots of light. Otherwise they stretch.

I agree with CPG. If you want strong starter plants you need to give them strong light, and that would have to be artificial light at this time of year.
Also, why try and start tomatoes in the middle of winter? Why not wait until a lot closer to spring?

@hortica

Honestly, no real reason at all. Was just attempting to see if I could get a head start on growing them. I figured these sprouts had already thinned out too much. I might just wait and try again closer to spring.

Thanks again!
@CalPolygardener @Hortica

I start tomatoes 6 or 8 weeks before plant out, no more. I get them within a couple inches of a tube light as soon as sprouted. Tomato seedlings grow very fast!