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Why do my tomato seed leaves die about a week after the first true leaves show? Quiet often followed by the rest of the plant.
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Can you be a bit more specific. Any photos? Seed leaves do eventually die but I potted up some tomatoes today which are about a foot tall and most still have seed leaves. Where are you keeping the plants? What compost have you used? Need more details? -
If the whole plant is dying, are you keeping them too dry, or too wet? Or are they too cold?A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP. - Leonard NimoyComment
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Or too hotOriginally posted by Penellype View Post
Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.
Which one are you and is it how you want to be?Comment
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The seed leaves of a plant (technically called cotyledons) have a different function from subsequent true leaves on most plants. Their primary purpose is to protect the shoot as it grows up through the soil towards light. Once light is reached the cotyledons start to photosynthesise providing energy to the plant. However they are not as efficient at this as true leaves because they are primarily shaped to protect the emerging shoot.
So, as soon as true leaves appear the function of the cotyledons is redundant and they wither and die. If they do remain it's unusual and not the norm because true leaves are more efficient compared to cotyledons at photosynthesis.
So if your plant dies (as you say) it's not connected with the seed leaves dying, they do that of their own accord. Look for a cause not connected with the seed leaves.Last edited by TrialAndError; 03-05-2014, 09:14 PM.Comment
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The seed leaves are dying at the ver first glimpse of true leaves. At a very early seedling stage. I think the watering is ok. On a sw facing window sill. Average temp 18°. Does get a bit sunny in the afternoons and temps rise, but most times I put some greaseproof paper up against the window to provide shade. Compost is jacks magic with some vermiculite added.Comment
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Have your grown anything other than Tomatoes in the compost?
Got a photo of the dying ones? (What is in my mind is whether it might be Herbicide contamination that is killing them; from memory the way to test is by trying to germinate and grow beans, which are particularly susceptible to herbicide damage)K's Garden blog the story of the creation of our gardenComment
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This is the sort of test I was thinking of:
How to Test Compost for Herbicide Contamination: Organic GardeningK's Garden blog the story of the creation of our gardenComment
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A neighbour has used the same compost, from the same batch, and all his are fine. My cukes which were flying and making really healthy plants are now doing the same. The first true leaves are showing and the seed leaves are looking very unhappy. The plants are standing up like good little soldiers though.Comment
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If it's predicted to be a bit cold, I move them away from the glass. Can't remember if I did on the night of the frost. That may be a part of the equation.Comment
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Lots looking very unhappy now. The cukes have given up the ghost as well. I don't think it can be the compost, as some of the tom seedlings are doing fine, while others are absolutely hopeless..Comment
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Can't do pics just at the moment.
just over a week ago, a friend gave me some Alicante seedlings. All strong and looking well. Potted them on and they have flown. Watering from below as advocated, putting timber on nicely. When sun is fierce , giving shade as required. Today, they have followed the route of the moneymakers, gardeners delight, roma, tigrella, and black cherry. First the seed leaves throw the towel in, and now the true leaves are showing distress at the tips and aroung the edges. Tomorrow, I is orf to source some mature plants ready to pot into the greenhouse.Comment
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The only time I've had anything like that happen was when my toms got too hot when still in small pots. I'd left them in the conservatory when recently potted on to 3" pots. They took the whole days sun and did pretty much as you describe whereas the peppers were fine. I keep them in the utility room until they go out now as it's a tad cooler on a hot day.
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Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.
Which one are you and is it how you want to be?Comment
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