I put my tomato seedlings out a week ago (Texas zone 8a), and they (those that aren't eaten by leafcutter ants) have grown 1 1/2" in that time. I'm very happy about it because I have worked very very hard the last two years to improve the soil. Would some of you who have no problems with growing tomatoes please measure your tomatoes, and let me know how much they grow in a week? I would like to know if mine are in the average growth rate.

When I plant my tomatoes they generally just sit there for a week or two and seem to do nothing, then all of a sudden they explode with growth, adding an inch or two every day.

Mine have been transplanted and buried deeper 4 times. Maybe that helped.

I notice the same thing as Dave, which is actually very common among plants in general. Something called 'transplant shock'. While many plants take to transplanting just fine, most don't 'like' it. During this time the plants don't concentrate much on vegetative growth while it's roots acclimate to the new situation. This period can last from a couple days to a couple weeks depending on the plant species.

For me, with tomatoes, after transplanting them out, I'll get about a week of them just sitting there, looking healthy, but without much new growth. After that a range of 1-2 inches a day is about the normal for tomatoes...sometimes a bit more or a bit less.

Thanks, both of you. That gives me a goal to expect in a week or so. BTW Rob, my avatar would eat yours

Well, its been two weeks since tomato transplant, 3 days since I fertilized with 1/2 strength blood meal . my tomatoes grew 1 " today, which is up to standard.

Warm sun and lots of water should keep 'em going now, don't worry! If you get another cold front through there, though, a couple of chilly nights can stop them for a week or two. I cover mine in the winter to keep them growing and producing whenever the night temps go below about 50.

I hope it stays warm. FYI - last winter I decided to see if I could over winter some of my tomatoes. I put them in pots, cut them down to the first branch fork, set the pots on top a thick layer of moist goat poop which kept it 10° warmer. Covered them with a double layer of frost cloth, and at night, put black plastic over the frost cloth. Took the plastic off every morning. They all died. Its easier to start new ones. I really was just playing around as last year, didn't get any tomato's anyway.

Hm, very clever idea, but a 'hoop house' with clear plastic over it - like a small makeshift greenhouse - might have worked better . . .. not to aid and abet you in playing around of course, but I love to mess with that kind of stuff, too. A lady on the other forum lives in Red Oak TX and keeps tropicals alive through the winters there with a hoop house. The key is to warm up the soil around the plants when the sun shines during the day, then 'trap' that heat around the plants during the night. Your frost cloth might have prevented the soil from warming up.

A fellow on the Florida forum takes cuttings from his tomato plants at the end of the season, and starts his new plants from those every year.

Now that's clever. Especially with the best of the year tomatoes.

I think it's very strange that my tomato plants stay the same size all day and then grow 1 to 1 1/2" in the hour before sunset. Anyone have the same experience? Anyone know why?

I've never monitored their growth to that extent, so I really do not know. For me it's kinda like...'Oh look, they've reached the next rung on the tomato cage'.

I am so happy to have a successful garden this year, I think over excited about it. I mark the tomato growth with a stick every night, check on it several times a day for ants, or growth, or does it need water, or is it slightly yellow today. I think I've bored all my friends. So glad there is ATP!

"I think I've bored all my friends." I know that feeling!

I tried taking cuttings from some end of season tomatoes one year, and they overwintered just fine and I planted them out the following year. But, the new plants I grew from seed (same variety) outstripped them and produced much better. Not sure why.

That's interesting. So, I would have to think " why bother?"

Only reason I can think that would make any sense would be if the plant were an exotic hybrid for which seeds were no longer available. But I only tried it that one time, and I do live in the frozen northland. Maybe that works better in other climates? And somewhat off topic, I tried saving the tubers from some yellow 4 o'clocks that I particularly liked. Over wintered them with no problem, set them out in spring the following year. And again, the plants I grew from seed did much better. Weird.

Who has the first tomato starting? I have only blossoms so far. Last year plants were 3" now

My tomato plants do the same thing. I plant them and they sit there for a while. I plant them deeper that they were and I think they grow more roots.

Lots of blooms and most of our tomatoes are 4' tall right now. Our Mexico Midget plants are full size and in full bloom. I expect to be eating those in a couple weeks. Once you get to this point, it doesn't take long to start seeing fruit.

Sure. Go ahead. Rub it in. Flaunt your nice toasty zones. My poor tomato plants are still sitting tucked inside the greenhouse, waiting for the nasty cold weather to go away. Heh, some of them are still in 4" pots, looking pretty top-heavy at 18 inches tall in those tiny pots!