I seem not to be able to get a handle on fertilizing my tomato seedlings. I use Alaska Fish Emulsion which says for bedding plants use 1 T per gallon. So for seedlings I heard I should cut that in half but I ended up using 1 teaspoon per half gallon as my arthritis won't let me pick up a gallon jug. The seedlings are stunted with curled leaves so, obviously, I goofed again. Out of 30 years of starting seeds, this has only happened the last 3 years when I started using Alaska.

My question is whether these plants will grow out of it. I didn't use the bad ones last year but this year I cut way back to only 4 plants. I got a variety of fresh seeds at the Salvation army for only .10 each so I'm growing Opalka, Jersey Devil, Big Mama and Delicious.

Should I just throw them out and buy new ones or do you think they will grow out of it when they're in the ground.

I tried to take pics but when I plugged my camera into the pc it said the folder was empty so I must be having some connection problems.

There's 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon so you haven't overdone it. Fish emulsion is fairly hard to overdo. Try with the pictures again. I wouldn't give up just yet.

How big are these tomato seedlings? Up until they have started their second set of true leave they really don't need fertilizer. Sounds like you're experienced enough to determine if they will recover. If they do, it's unlikely that the fertilizer will harm them permanently.

For future plantings, I think your answer is here:

mnmat said: . . . Out of 30 years of starting seeds, this has only happened the last 3 years when I started using Alaska. . . .

I think you're right. I didn't start fertilizing until the second set of true leaves were good sized. I'm switching from Alaska to Agro Thrive. In one feeding my cabbages doubled their size and look wonderful. Tomatoes won't need watering for a few more days yet so I'll wait on those. The seedlings have at least 4 sets of true leaves with maybe a third of them stunted. I started 18 for a friend and wouldn't you know it hers are the stunted ones. My four I threw out and replanted. They're up but no true leaves yet. We don't plant outside until after Memorial Day here so I have almost a month for some good growing.