Fertilizers recommendations for young tobacco starts

[manfisher]

I think the potting soil I’ve been using is low in nutrients because my small seedlings leaves are a pale green/yellow. From a previous post, it seems like it’s a nitrogen deficiency. Does anyone have any recommendations for some nitrogen fertilizers for them?

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Pale seedlings are more likely due to over watering.

Can you share some photos?

 

[Old Gasman]

Any decent seedling compost should have sufficient nutrients, perhaps overwatering as ChinaVoodoo suggested, or maybe not enough light.

 

[manfisher]

Pale seedlings are more likely due to over watering.

Can you share some photos?

Yeah here’s a pic. What’s weird is I don’t think I’m overwatering. I’ll give it about 1/4-1/8
Of an inch water every 3-4 days. It gets so dry that the surface dirt gets hard and hydrophobic.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

As you have algae growth on the soil, it is safe to say it's too wet.

Also, seedlings that small would not have nutrient deficiency unless you were growing them in moon regolith.

 

[manfisher]

As you have algae growth on the soil, it is safe to say it's too wet.

Also, seedlings that small would not have nutrient deficiency unless you were growing them in moon regolith.

Got it. Well, that is good to know. Is that normal for the soil to get that dry though? How much/often should I water for bottom up feeding

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Got it. Well, that is good to know. Is that normal for the soil to get that dry though? How much/often should I water for bottom up feeding

My advices are to probe the top to see how far down it is dry like that, and if you have any extra seedlings, to try to get the whole thing out. You will be reassured that those tiny little plants' roots are probably all the way to the bottom already, and that it's only dry for the top 1/8-1/4".

Then just start watering less and less until it feels right.

 

[wruk53]

I think the potting soil I’ve been using is low in nutrients because my small seedlings leaves are a pale green/yellow. From a previous post, it seems like it’s a nitrogen deficiency. Does anyone have any recommendations for some nitrogen fertilizers for them?

If I'm using a sterile mix that doesn't already contain nutrients, I use Miracle Grow for tomatoes mixed with water at only about one quarter strength and a few grains of Epsom salts. A quarter of a teaspoon of MG per gallon of water and a small pinch of Epsom salts. You can water with this mix whenever the cells need water without worrying about burning the plants and it provides plenty of nutrients for seedlings.

 

[manfisher]

My advices are to probe the top to see how far down it is dry like that, and if you have any extra seedlings, to try to get the whole thing out. You will be reassured that those tiny little plants' roots are probably all the way to the bottom already, and that it's only dry for the top 1/8-1/4".

Then just start watering less and less until it feels right.

So I probed the tobacco and it is pretty dry all the way down to the last 1/8th inch. The roots are probing out of the bottoms of the tray into the catch tray with is assuring but that seems like very little water for them. They are still very very pale, and I have reduced watering to maybe once or twice a week. The algae is still on the surface as well. Any recommendations on what to do? Should I continue to water and if so how much/how often?

 

[manfisher]

I should also say, my VA are doing just fine (in the same tray) but my burlies are the ones that are very pale, and a little droopy (hard to tell because they're small and very close to the soil)

 

[Knucklehead]

I should also say, my VA are doing just fine (in the same tray) but my burlies are the ones that are very pale, and a little droopy (hard to tell because they're small and very close to the soil)

I second the wruk53 post.

Burley needs a tad more fertilizer than flue cured.

Tell me about float tray systems

I know some of you big guys use float trays. Tell me about them! I only grow about 100 plants a year but am really thinking I might benefit by switching to them. Also, the float trays I see advertised that hold about 50 to 90 some plants, are they the same thing you guys use? or is the...

fairtradetobacco.com

 

[manfisher]

I second the wruk53 post.

Burley needs a tad more fertilizer than flue cured.

Tell me about float tray systems

I know some of you big guys use float trays. Tell me about them! I only grow about 100 plants a year but am really thinking I might benefit by switching to them. Also, the float trays I see advertised that hold about 50 to 90 some plants, are they the same thing you guys use? or is the...

fairtradetobacco.com

Interesting, I had never heard of a float tray before., I wonder if it would be too late to transfer mine to one. I noticed this morning that some of burley colored up a bit while some leaves were literally white like a sheet of paper.

 

[Knucklehead]

Interesting, I had never heard of a float tray before., I wonder if it would be too late to transfer mine to one. I noticed this morning that some of burley colored up a bit while some leaves were literally white like a sheet of paper.

BigBonner is a commercial grower in KY. I was mainly showing his different fertilizer recommendations between some of the different varieties.
I tried two float trays in the basement, the frame was made from 1x6 covered with plastic. The plants did good but the method made an awful mess in the house and when I was ready to dump out all the water I had to do it with a pail, had to made several trips, then sopped up the remaining water with a towel, rung it out, repeat. It was a messy pain in the butt. I'm happy with the 1020 cells.

 

[deluxestogie]

My sense of it is that a float tray system would be advantageous (lower labor / cost) when you intend to start a thousand tobacco seedlings or more. It allows one individual grower to manage and regulate watering, fertilizing and repeated clipping—all within a greenhouse that has drains in the floor.

Bob

 

[manfisher]

My sense of it is that a float tray system would be advantageous (lower labor / cost) when you intend to start a thousand tobacco seedlings or more. It allows one individual grower to manage and regulate watering, fertilizing and repeated clipping—all within a greenhouse that has drains in the floor.

Bob

Yeah unfortunately, I live in an apartment and don't have the space for that. I suppose I will just use the water tray. I came back from a weekend trip and the burley look even worse than before, I literally cannot emphasize how white the leaves are, they are literally paper white, not a single ounce of green or yellow in them. Oddly enough I have another tray with burley that is doing pretty well although I used the same potting soil, same amount of water, and same seeds.

 

[Cloudbear]

I think the potting soil I’ve been using is low in nutrients because my small seedlings leaves are a pale green/yellow. From a previous post, it seems like it’s a nitrogen deficiency. Does anyone have any recommendations for some nitrogen fertilizers for them?

4 4 4 tomato soil

 

[deluxestogie]

Belated welcome to the forum, @Cloudbear. Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum.

Bob