I've killed them....

This is my first year gardening myself, though I always helped my parents growing up (apparently I wasn't paying attention). I started my early seedlings inside and I guess I went wrong somewhere. I have always had them under grow lights, but the tomatoes are a bit touchy--everyone else is happy! I noticed a week or so ago that they were starting to droop and now they are yellow and the leaves are falling off. Some leaves are curling upwards and some down. Some no longer have leaves. Some are brown on the ends and some have yellow patches. There is so much wrong that I don't even know where to start. I imagine it is probably too late to save them. I have started to harden them off in preparation for going outside in a week or so, but it doesn't look like they will make it that long. Can't tell if I've over or under watered. I've googled like crazy and it looks like both! What did I do wrong? They are so sad!

Usually I stick my finger in the soil and if it is just barely damp an inch in, I give them some water. Thought maybe that wasn't enough, so have been giving lots of water the past few days and that doesn't seem to have helped. I was probably overwatering to begin with and have now completely drowned them. HELP!

I'm guessing but think you probably over watered them some. They also look a little spindly so that would accout for them falling over. When my tomato seeds come up I water with a hand spray bottle and just mist them good every day. I also put a fan blowing on them to keep them barely moving all day. That helps your stems get thicker and stronger. My suggestion would be to pinch off all the bottom leaves and repot them up to the bottom leaf that is left. If they don't make it you haven't lost anything but a little time and potting soil.

I don't allow the soil to get too wet for tomato seedlings since it can cause root rot and kill them. I make sure the soil is a little warm, this is crucial for their growth and make a huge difference. Also make sure they are getting good enough light or sunlight. If they're inside, and its cool, you can use a heat mat to keep the soil warm, 75-80*F is a good range, but just careful to regulate the temperature so it don't get hot and kill the seedlings, use a tray or something between the heat mat and the container to make a buffer. But since you're in Arkansas I guess it should be warm there now, I would just leave them outside but keep them in a shaded area, not direct sunlight or it will stress them and turn the leaves yellow.

The nutrient of the soil mix you use is important too. I use coconut coir with fine compost and worm casting. Although tomato like some acidity so you can use peat moss instead of coconut coir.

It is better to start over and replant some new seeds than to try to grow the seedlings that are already stunted and stressed, it will make a big difference in how productive the plant is when it's mature. A younger healthy seedling can grow faster and into bigger a plant than an unhealthy seedling that is a month or even two older.

This message was edited Apr 9, 2015 11:28 AM

That first one could be repotted and it'll probably be fine. Invest in a soil moisture meter to help you know when it's time to water.

Did you put any fertilizer on your seedlings?