Ready to put tomato seedlings in larger container

11 years ago

Last year I was given a Purple Cherokee and Sunbright tomato. They were so delicious I decided to try and save the seeds. The seed saving went well and I planted them April 4th in Hydrofarm germination kit. They now have their true leaves and are ready to pot up. I just now turned off the germination mat after reading here that it is not necessary after germination and that it can cook the roots. Yikes. I also read on this forum that you gradually pot up the seedlings into larger pots. My instinct told me this, but read on tomato dirt that they should be potted up to 5-6" pots. My greatest concern now is when I repot do I keep them under flourescent lights. Tomato dirt says yes, but now with the larger pots I'm not sure how to set up enough lights to cover them all and how long to keep lights on now. This whole process has been so exciting and terrifying at the same time! BTW I am in central Virginia where the weather is still iffy. Warm enough today I think to put them out, but too windy. Any advice very much appreciated. Thanks, Debbie

Featured Answer

grubby_AZ Tucson Z9

11 years ago

Size does matter and I think people don't notice it. Tomatoes growing well have heroic root systems and they seem to bind quickly. I've noticed that if I have a set of plants all germinated at the same time and put into, say, 16 ounce cups at the same time, and then I plant half of them in the ground two weeks earlier than the other half, that the earlier plantings (unless I damage them by going too early in cold dirt) are already noticeably larger than their siblings going in those two weeks later.

This plant should be in the ground already or should have been put into a bigger dirt ball already. The root thing can be ameliorated by planting this one deep, but it's already set back some and that time can't be recovered in our very short spring season. Just an opinion based on what seems to work here.

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Comments (7)

RedSun (Zone 6, NJ)
11 years ago
You sure handle the seedlings like new baby. The seedlings are tougher than the baby.

After the seedlings put out one or two pairs of true leaves, then they can be put outside. But a lot of folks prefer to start seeds much earlier and transplant them to larger pots before put them out in the garden. If you have a sunny area of your room, then it should do it.

Before you put out the seedlings outside, let the seedlings harden. On warm days, take the seedlings outside, then take them back at night. Keep increase the exposure to normal outside temperature.

Do not put them outside too early. They do not grow anything when it is still cold outside.
debu
Original Author
11 years ago
Well you certainly got me figured out RedSun. I am both blessed and cursed by a very strong nurturing nature. Thank you for the response.

So I will put my babies....I mean my seedlings outside on warm days and bring in at night until the soil has warmed up enough to plant them.

Do you think the size pot to put the seedlings in matters?
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debu
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Grubby. So if I understand get the plants in ground asap helps them grow faster than if you keep them potted up. My question though is since my plants just got their true leaves and weather not permitting them to be planted in ground does it matter what size pot? I have read that they should be gradually potted up to larger pots and have read that they can go straight into 6" pot. I am so confused.
debu
Original Author
11 years ago
So I am going to pot these seedlings in the 5" jiffy pots I bought yesterday. Then to Home Depot for more fluorescent lights since the little one I have that I started the seeds with won't cover the 36 5" pots. Then I am going to take them outside on warm days in the shade first , and then to south facing deck gradually acclimating them to the sun. When the soil reaches 60 degrees I will plant in the ground. If anyone sees a flaw with this plan please let me know. I've come this far I hate to kill them before they get in the ground!
cecenj
11 years ago
I've not had great luck with jiffy pots which tend to dry out quickly. Despite package claims they do not decompose in the ground but instead hamper root development. You might do better with red drink party cups with holes poked in the bottoms until you plant in ground.
debu
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you very much for letting me know that! I wanted something biodegradable but they get returned today and I will buy some solo cups instead.