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Growing from Seed

A slight worry about my seedlings in Jiffy peat pots

tn_veggie_gardner

15 years ago

Most of my seedlings are 3 weeks old today. My Cherry tomatoes and some other stuff I started in peat pellets (cherries transfered to plastic cups) are doing great. On the other hand, my San Marzano tomatoes, Early Girl tomatoes & Jalapeno Early Organics still in the peat pots seem to have slowed their growth somewhat over the past few days. They almost all appear to be growing their 2nd & 3rd sets of leaves, but are nowhere near the size of my Cherry tomatoes or of some of the Jalapeno seedlings started a week after them in peat pellets! :-\ Do I need to transplant them asap? I'm thinking maybe the peat pots are soaking up too much water or maybe not draining enough or something along those lines. I have a few pictures from mid last week (they don't look too much bigger now) if that'd help the diagnosis. Just let me know & I can post a few. Any & all help appreciated. Thanks! - Steve

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Comments (5)

retiredprof
15 years ago
Steve: I have exactly the same problem with my San Marzanos. They've been stuck in this plateau phase for 2-3 weeks and look lousy. Started in peat pots. I was thinking about transplanting them "up", too, to see if I can jump start them.

Today, I bit the bullet and re-sowed another batch in small plastic seed-starter flats.

I'll be anxious to see what others think.

Prof
tn_veggie_gardner
Original Author
15 years ago
Unless I get some major problematic evidence to the contrary (on this thread), I plan on taking everything I have left in the Jiffy peat pots & potting them up after work today. I'm not sure yet how i'll remove the plants from the peat pots though. That probably depends on size of the plant, type of plant, etc.. I imagine i'll use a big spoon & just dig the plant out with most of the soil, so as not to disturb any roots. I don't want to leave them with any part(s) of the pots when potting up. I'll let you know how it turns out. - Steve
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This is my second season growing from seeds and I used these again. However, I don't germinate in them, I germinate the seeds using the Baggie Method. Once the seeds have germinated, I put them in the peat pots. I soak the pots to expand them, then I loosen them by squeezing them a bit. I then poke the top of the peat pot with a toothpick to loosen it further. I dig a hole, with the toothpick, just deep enough for the existing root to fit and put the seed in it, root down. I put it deep enough to just see a tiny bit of the seed poking out. I then drop a few drops of water on top to get the peat into contact with the seed. In a few days, the seed pops up out of the peat, sheds the hull and the cotyledons fan out. I give them about 1-2 week indoor (depending on the plant) and then take them out to start acclimating them, but not in direct sunlight (that will dry them out). When I first used the Baggie Method, I put the seeds in too deep and it took forever for them to pop out of the peat...some didn't. They also grew faster. Once the true leaves appear and grow a bit, I transplant them to a pot/ground. I think they are convenient, because I don't have to go outside (if sown in the ground) or move a large number of pots around indoors. I bought one of the larger ones, so it's usually big enough for whatever I'm growing. GOOD LUCK!
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Sorry it's taken me so long to get back. I work two jobs, and my schedual is vicsious (sp?). Thanks for the info Shurbs and Bulbs. I thought mabey you'd answer me first, because of the time difference. You're 5 hours ahead of me according to the time as told on the BBC. I listen to the World Service during the wee hours while my husband and I deliver newspapers. Thanks for advice on misting "cranky old man" from NY. Love the name. Yes, my seedlings under the lights have germinated. I even try to let them get up a good way before I take them out form under to dome. Tastefully julie, it is convolvlus that I'm talking about, but now in addition to the convolvulus, and Kong mosaics, I have som gazines, dalhias, doulble impaients, gomphenas,durta, hollyhocks and a couple of other things I can't remember right now. I think I might have over done just a bit. Back yard Brug, I have just two leaves on my inch long stem. I gave them some diluted fertilizer today so, mabey that will encourage them to grow some leaves
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I used pretty much everything this year,my first.Peat pods were terrible.Germination was less than 20% in the 720 cells I did.Most had one or two for weeks, then I took them apart,hate the mesh on the outside.Broke up the pods mix with small amount of soil and covered.Most got a few more sprouts, but there still out there.I did pack some pods with soil around them in early april, did'nt seem to help. Did maybe 50 in peat pots in zipplocks, germ was good.But I don't like the head room issue or the fact that snow, heavy rain and wind battle me to keep them upright and uncrushed.Milk jugs had good germ too, but..When I have only one or two big sprouts taking the top off slows the rest of the seeds in the jug.I did alot of taking out large seedlings to reclose jugs for possible later sprouters.My fav has been the 4 stage clear tub set up.I just love this one.I have been trasfering my system to this since I started it.One tub sown seeds in clear plastic cups with bottems cut off, covered all the time.One tub for new sprouts,little holes in cover.One tub for large sprouts, cover off days, on nights.Last tub several true leaves, light fertilized waiting to be planted.Then I plant the seedling in/with the cup around it for protection.Doesn't disturb the roots, just press soil into garden hole while still in cup.When the babies are big enought I just twist the cup and remove. Storing cups and tubs should be easy, rise and reuse. now if I can just get a good labeling system down.......
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retiredprof
15 years ago
I've done that before. Water the pots well, let them drain a bit, and cut or gently tear the pots. Don't even try to salvage them.

Prof
tn_veggie_gardner
Original Author
15 years ago
Whew! I felt like I was playing Operation potting up those tiny seedlings to 16 oz cups, but it is now done. I think I may loose the first one I did. ;) I'm glad they have new homes. The root clusters were pulling out half the potting mix from the Jiffy cups. Anyways, it's done...yay!
tn_veggie_gardner
Original Author
15 years ago
Ok, here are the pictures, after transplanting what I had enough soil for, to 16 oz plastic cups. I also did some labelling. :) Still not good enough though, as I lost track of a few of my pellets (Jalapeno's? maybe...Serrano's? maybe). Anyways, I feel better now knowing that all of my tomatoes are in bigger cups. The first picture is a few of my Cherry Tomatoes, started on March 10th. The second picture is my remaining seedlings (all about 1 & 1/2 to 3 inches). Potting up early makes sooooo much of a difference!...

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