Understanding a tomato seedling's instincts

Plants are programmed to fight for survival in the competition for nutrients and light. To get the best fruit out of a tomato plant, for example, you have to fool it

- Bill Kerr

Starting fruit setting lower down will increase yields.

A tomato crop starts with the seedlings. This may sound blindingly obvious, but there's more to the statement than meets the eye. Seedlings can have a profound influence on early yield and development.

IT'S TOUGH OUT THERE

Tomatoes originated in the wild, where they had to compete with other plants. Some of these might have been of the same species.

In nearly all life forms, survival is the most basic instinct. The next priority is to reproduce so that they pass on their genes.

These characteristics are genetically present in almost all species. Animals sometimes fight to the death to accomplish this.

This needs to be kept in mind when considering tomato seedlings.

The plant has to compete in the wild and win in order for the reproductive instinct to kick in.