- Etiolation occurs when plants receive inadequate light and begin stretching in order to reach a source of light. Retired Harvard biology professor John W. Kimball explains that this mechanism likely evolved to help plants move into adequate light. If plants don't reach light before their energy stores run out, they can fall over and die.
- Because tomatoes need a lot of light, etiolation can occur both in seedlings started indoors, as well as tomatoes transplanted into the garden. Tomatoes demonstrating this growing habit also will not set fruit, according to the Texas A&M University Extension.
- To avoid etiolation, provide emerging seedlings with adequate light. South-facing windows provide adequate natural light, or two 40-watt fluorescent bulbs left over the flats for 14 to 16 hours per day can provide an artificial substitute, according to University of Missouri Extension. When choosing a location to transplant tomatoes in your garden, select a spot that gets no less than eight hours of sunlight per day.
Etiolation
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