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Florida Gardening

Are My Starter Pots Too Small?

13 years ago

We are getting ready for our first garden. My husband has some growing experience but I have never grown much of anything and neither of us have grown from seed. This was more or less a "test" just to see what I could do and what exactly would happen during the germination process. These seedlings are a week old today and I'm shocked at how fast they grew but I think I might see a potential problem. The inside dimension of these pots are 1 1/2" and I'm seeing roots from several of the plants not only from the bottom of the plants but the top of the soil as well. Since these were a test it wouldn't really hurt my feelings to ditch them but then again, since so many of them are growing I was wondering what I might be able to do to salvage them until our garden is ready in a few more weeks.

From Left to Right is watermelon, the tiny ones in the center are broccoli and the ones to the right are yellow squash and zucchini. I tried to capture some of the roots in the last photo...

[img]http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh140/Julie-Girl/GARDENING/MISCSEEDLINGS1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh140/Julie-Girl/GARDENING/MISCSEEDLINGS2.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh140/Julie-Girl/GARDENING/MISCSEEDLINGS3.jpg[/img]

Is there a rule of thumb for determining the size of the starter pot to use?

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Comments (6)

seedsnsprouts
Original Author
13 years ago
Shoot...let me go see why photos aren't showing up...
seedsnsprouts
Original Author
13 years ago

White roots showing
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Steph 'Rocks' are, as I suspected, too large. The mix needs to be of ingredients of very similar in size. If you can imagine an aquarium gravel, that is approximate size. Or piece of perlite; or little smaller than your charcoal chips. The large rocks don't do anything for drainage of soil. Bonsai mix you mention sounds quite good. I am not familiar with that mix, going by description you posted. What kind of gravel do you have? If appropriate size, and you also have perlite - you are almost there. If those were only ingredients I had, I would mix gravel & perlite and add small amount of C&S soil - 10-20% max of total volume. Horticultural charcoal will help drainage too; I never use it but don't think it would hurt in small amount. 40% gravel+40% perlite+10-15% C&S soil and rest charcoal (10-5%). Mix well, and I don't think you need to buy anything. To check mix if dry enough, get a bamboo skewer or chopstick or even pencil thinner is better). Insert deep into mix avoiding the roots. If it comes out dry and clean, time to water. If any small particles are sticking to it, or it feels damp or cold when touched to top of your hand or your cheek, do not water - still plenty of moisture. At the same time (while checking with a skewer), lift the pot to feel how 'heavy' it is. Lift it also when checking and mix is dry. Eventually, you be able to tell if mix has dried enough - the pot will be lighter -and won't need the skewer :) If you keep it in cooled room, it will take longer for mix to dry up. Plant will need good light & should go on the windowsill where it is warmer, and should dry up faster.
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I agree with gardengal, they should be OK this year. You'll have lots more next spring, hopefully for a new garden! Look at my in similar container - last fall (bulging little): and same this spring: ...and this one, very crowded, they were repotted:Excuse me for being nosy - what's in the white cups with sticks?
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loufloralcityz9
13 years ago
seedsnsprouts,

I agree with you that the pots you used are way too small. The very smallest pot I would consider starting my veggies in would be a foam coffee cup. I start mine in 4"X4"square and/or 6"round pots. You don't have to throw those plants you've started out, but just transfer them into larger pots and they will do well. A quick way to rescue those plants would be to transfer them into cheap plastic cold drink cups if you cannot locate any plant pots quickly, just make sure you first punch a hole or two with a sharp pencil at the bottom of the cup for drainage. I hope this helps.

Lou
tomncath
13 years ago
I agree with Lou, I start the cucurbit and melon seed in 16 oz plastic drinking cups that I salvage from the cafeteria at work, with 3-4 holes punched at the bottom, and no more than 2 weeks before my set date. I do start the broccoli in 3 oz solo cups and pot-up usually between the first and second week, but the set date is at least a month from the pot-up. Definitely move them into bigger containers now if you're going to try to save them.

9b, where are you? Some folks can start now and for some it's still too early....

Tom
seedsnsprouts
Original Author
13 years ago
Great info! Thanks!

Thought I posted my zone but am still learning the site. I'm zone 9b, Brevard County on the East Coast. According to Vegetable Gardening in Florida by James M. Stephens (U of F) I should be really close to my growing/planting dates but am so "green" to the whole growing process that any advice would be welcome!
tomncath
13 years ago
Go for it then, I will take you a few years to determine your micro-climate and the appropriate starting dates for your specific conditions, course it doesn't hurt to observe what the local farmers are doing or find somebody in your immediate area to take you under their wing....

Tom

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