Potting up Tomato Seedlings

15 years ago

Hi all

I'm very knew to this and have read lots of info but some things are just not in the books. I've started 3 tomato varieties in a Lee Valley Self-Watering Seed Starter. The tomatoes are coming to the point where they have their true leaves and need to be potted up. I have 2 questions:

I made a mistake and bought some 2 " air pruning pots even though my books say 3 - 4" pots. Should I use them and just transfer to the 4 inch pots when they've outgrown the 2 inch pots?

Second question, should I use the seed starting potting mix that I used originally or should I move up to a mix of garden soil and humus?

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Comments (2)

hatchjon
15 years ago
You can transplant twice (once to 2 inch than once to 4 inch) with no problem.
Do NOT use a mixture of garden soil and humus! In most cases this mix will be too dense and retain too much moisture. Use the potting mix or purchase a good soiless mix like Pro-mix.

Jon
digdirt2
15 years ago
Agree with Jon. Either use your soil-less starting mix and supplemental feed them or buy a good soil-less growing mix. Many brands are available.

Dave
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That's great news. They don't look that bad in the pictures; just a little droopy. I transplanted seedlings last year that were much farther along than yours and they pouted and became very withered-looking in their new pots. So I made sure the soil was moist and put them in the shade [this was an outside transplant of seedlings into larger pots] for the rest of the day. The next morning they were back to their old selves. Plants can be such divas at times. :-)
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Thats true m , Pot them up to a container (16 oz plastic cups work great). You want enough room for the roots to get BIG. Dark colored cups to keep light away from the roots, put them in in a very cool enviornment 50*-55* with your flou lights as close as possible (it won't even hurt if they touch the bulbs). After two weeks move em to a bright window with your lights on them until the seasonal light gets longer and time to harden off. You should have a stocky stemmed, incrediblely fibourous root systemed plant that should thrive outside.
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Potting up Tomato Seedlings

Comments (2)

hatchjon

digdirt2

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