Rustica plants snapping off at the base ... help!

[squeezyjohn]

I popped home yesterday and had a check on my little plants. All the N.Tabacum varieties that had a haircut a week ago are looking very strong.

But the Rustica plants in root-trainers are going absolutely crazy - they're getting about a foot tall and they seem very very delicate indeed. I found that just trying to handle them led to them snapping off at the base where the roots meet the stem really easily.

Obviously they need to be toughened up massively before they can go out in to their windy site!

Any idea how I could get them ready for the ground? Can I plant them deeper and cover up the stem with soil in order to give them more support?

Thanks

Squeezy

 

[jekylnz]

Use a oscillating fan..just start on low..also I would raise dirt level around base for more support. .but the fan should do it ..usually outside they would be stronger from the wind ..and would be used to it from when they started out

 

[FmGrowit]

Use a oscillating fan..just start on low..also I would raise dirt level around base for more support. .but the fan should do it ..usually outside they would be stronger from the wind ..and would be used to it from when they started out

Very good advice.

 

[Chicken]

you could place them in the ground and put a small supporting stake with it,

but when they are young the wind,,, be it natural. or a oscillating fan, will make the stem '' wiggle'' hardening it off, and making the stem more tougher,

 

[squeezyjohn]

Great advice as always .. thanks guys.

They have been in a greenhouse with no wind and I completely forgot about having to harden them off .... I do it with all my other vegetables! Doh!

 

[TheOtherOne]

When you raise the soil level watering the plants with willow bark tea would probably help them out.
This will stimulate root growth in the newly buried stem region.
The ocillating fan idea works really well too.

 

[squeezyjohn]

I've heard from a post by BigBonner I think that in his experience tobacco plants never root from above the point where the stem starts - but as long as the soil will not cause the stem some problems with rotting then I think it would give great support whether or not roots emerge.

Cheers

Squeezy

 

[jekylnz]

You could use a square block of polystyrene with a slit in it for stem to go in if you were worried about rot or something similar? ?