I have a few stupid newbee questions to ask...

sumilea2008

16 years ago

So I am just going to list them here.... :) (I apologize in advance for My English isn't very good so pardon any grammar or spelling mistakes) As i come up with more ridiculous questions ill just reply to this thread as i have many.

1) I am currently using Styrofoam cups to plant my seedlings till its time to pot up (and plan to pot up several times). However my question is... how long would the Tomato seedling roots take to completely outgrow the Styrofoam cup (Root ball till it runs out of space and nutrients)? The reason behind my question is, since tomato plants are a space loving plant when the plant reaches optimal use of space in the Styrofoam cup and gets potted up it, it may appreciate the extra space and grow vigorously maybe? Like for example... (The Economic stimulus package with the tax refunds, when people are broke and now having more money they will possibly spend more)

2) How much buried stem is required to make sure that your plants wont turn out Leggy?

3) Which is a better approach to potting up? Gradual addition of soil as the plants get bigger so the stem can grow roots gradually and utilize time better? or.... let the plant grow on its own let the root do its own thing for awhile before potting up (less work)? I figure the gradual addition of soil will promote more root growth as time goes on vs the latter.

Sorry everyone..... I know its dumb questions but figured bite the bullet and ask.

Sumilea

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

gardenchad
16 years ago
1.which size of Styrofoam cup are using.
2.none legginess is caused by lack of a strong light souce.
3 4 weeks is about the average time before plants are potted up.
grb1
16 years ago
Hi Sumilea,

I have been growing a yellow currant since Jan. 17th. {{gwi:1300596}}I transplanted twice so far. This weekend IÂm going to transplant for the final time to a 5 gal. self watering bucket. {{gwi:1300598}}
{{gwi:1300600}}
{{gwi:1300602}}
{{gwi:1300604}}
{{gwi:1300606}}
I plan to fill the bucket about Â¼ of the way, then add potting mix accordingly as the plant grows. IÂll keep lights on it until itÂs time to put outside.
Related Discussions
This is a stupid/novice question....do I have to have a rooster?
Q
Comments (3)
Yeah, no roo needed to get eggs, only if you want fertilized eggs for hatching. But a lot of people feel that a roo completes the flock, and it's pretty cool watching a roo tend his ladies, taking them around to nests, finding goodies and calling them to it... :) A hen will start to lay eggs around the age of 6 months, and will on average lay an egg every other day or so from then until about the age of 6-7 years, give or take. Egg laying peaks by the age of two and slowly tapers off. Hens, like humans, have a finite number of eggs in their bodies that they are born with. Heck, I have some older hens who still come into lay every Spring and lay an egg or two here and there, and they are between 6 and 9 years old! There are no stupid questions, everyone was a beginner once. :) I've got a chicken info site here that may help: http://jackshenhouse.com/ Velvet ~:>
...See More
Newbee Here... With a few rookie questions.
Q
Comments (2)
Don't give up on the frostbitten ghosts. If the frost was brief, it was just the leaves that got bit. Trim back like you were overwintering, and watch for new leaves. Btw, here is where the pots work against you. Plants in pots are much more susceptible to cold than in-ground plants. As for growing pepper-producing plants indoors, peps are like marijahooki. Both give you a high [ahem], and both are high energy plants that want a lot of light. Look at marijuana-growing setups. They will translate directly. Also look at the GardenWeb FAQ 'Growing under Lights'.
...See More
Wow - I Have A Stupid Question - Network Security
Q
Comments (12)
Suzie, here is how you can make your wireless network more secure. Perform the following steps: 1. In your internet browser, type 192.168.1.1 and hit ENTER 2. If you are asked for a User name and Password, the default name for both of them is: admin If you want to create a unique User name and Password for this access, you can do so, but make sure you remember what it is, or write it down. This user name and password allows access to your Linksys Setup Page. You can keep the default, or create your own. By creating your own user name and password, you are creating another layer of security for your wireless network. 3. You should next see the Linksys Wireless Router Setup Page. Click on the Wireless tab at the top, and then you will need to give your wireless network a name at the Network Name(SSID) location. This is the name that everyone will see, just like how you saw your neighbors wireless networks. If you give it a unique name, people will see it, but they probably won't know that it is your network. A second option is just below this area. If you click on "Disable" for the SSID Broadcast, your network will not be visible to the other networks around you. After you have made all your choices, you must click "Save Settings" at the bottom of the page for your changes to take effect. You should then see a message that says "Settings are successful". 4.Next, under the same Wireless tab, click on "Wireless Security". At the Security Mode option, click the drop-down arrow and choose WPA2-Personal; then choose TKIP encryption if not already chosen. Then, VERY IMPORTANT...you will need to choose a passphrase. The passphrase will be used to sign into your network, make it by using a combination of letters, numbers, and other characters (exclamation point, asterisk, pound sign, etc.) so that it will be difficult for a hacker to figure it out. Write down this pass phrase, and put it somewhere that you can find it and it is secure. If you can memorize it, that is even better. After you have done this, click Save Settings at the bottom, and you should now have a much more secure network!!!
...See More
I have few questions!!
Q
Comments (4)
thank you!! I dont use the same soil i use with hen and chicks. Other pots have perlite in their soil but yes hen and chicks one is without perlite. My poor plants hardly seeing sunshine. I have little garden but its covered with buildings around me and trees. I put my pots near my window daylight but they still seem little sad. ( Echeveria started to grow long ) So i tried to give them another light. I think i will search for better soil and maybe few more pots (i made the pots they have drainage holes but maybe its still too deep for succulents?) Im living in a very hard place to find plant soil pots are even plants. When i do its so expensive or too cheap and useless to buy. Maybe in big cities of Turkey i can find better places to buy plants or soil. I have found like 3 or 4 plant nurseries. and all of them sells trees ,orchids and short living flowers with organic soils and without drainageholes pots. No one seems like having interest with succulents..
...See More
digdirt2
16 years ago
Hi Sumilea - Aw come on - you've been around long enough now to know there is no "dumb" questions! ;)

JMO, ok, no gospel here, just what works for me. (legal disclaimer ;)

1)how long would the Tomato seedling roots take to completely outgrow the Styrofoam cup... It wouldn't happen. Not till long after it was time for them to be in the garden. You've seen the 6 packs they sell tomato plants in? Compare the size to your cup and you'll see the difference. This is not to say you could or should grow it in that same cup and skip transplanting altogether, just that it could, if it had to for some reason, remain in that cup till it's garden time.

2) gets potted up it, it may appreciate the extra space and grow vigorously maybe? Transplanting accomplishes 2 things and is the main reason I am a big advocate of multi-staged transplanting. It stalls (retards) top growth for a bit (about 1 week) and stimulates root development, allows root development to catch-up if you will. 2 plants, same age, 1 transplanted and 1 not, 10 days later the transplanted one will show me 2x the root development while top growth on both remains about the same. Since I want sturdy (not leggy) transplants with good root development that will ignore any transplant shock, I usually transplant 3x before the garden - seedling flat to cell pack, cell pack to small coffee cup, coffee cup to 16 oz. cup and then to garden. It's not required, just what always works for me. Besides, I like playing in the dirt. ;)

3)How much buried stem is required to make sure that your plants wont turn out Leggy? I transplant deep as possible. I bury the stem up to 1 finger below the first set of leaves. But this does NOT prevent leggy plants - only light and avoiding over-crowding can do that. Deep transplanting can compensate for leggy plants but not prevent them.

4)Which is a better approach to potting up? Gradual addition of soil as the plants get bigger so the stem can grow roots gradually and utilize time better? or.... let the plant grow on its own let the root do its own thing for awhile before potting up (less work)? I think neither is the ideal, as I have said above, I prefer multi-staged transplanting. Honestly, I don't anyone who does the "add soil approach". I'm sure there are some who do but it wouldn't work for me. I do know that the pro growers don't use that approach. I have talked to several nursery growers over the years and they all do 2 or 3 staged transplants, depending on the size plants they are preparing for sale - 6 packs or 4" pots, or 6" pots.

Hope this helps and lets you spit out that bullet. :^)

Dave
sumilea2008
Original Author
16 years ago
GRB1 - Love the pictures, and great setup. I may have to build one of those soon. I planted my seeds way to early z5 on jan 6th, and they are fairly big now.
Are my Seedlings Leggy?

Digdirt - Thank you so much. Great information!!!! You need to post pictures dave, would love to see how you grow your Tomatoes.
PGibbons
16 years ago
Sumilea - I agree with Dave on all counts. I transplant 3 to 4 times depending on when I get to plant. I start with a 5 oz cup to a 9 oz to a 16 oz. I do it at 2 week intervals and if we get a late cold spell that delays me planting out I transplant the 4th time to a 32 oz container. This has always given me a large root ball and strong healthy plants.

Patrick - Shreveport, La.
tomatoman
16 years ago
Hi Sumelia, Yes there is a stupid question! One that is thought, but not asked.
Great advice was given by Dave, and there is little I can add to your questions. If you are a nubee, join a garden club in your area, buy a good book or growing tomatoes, probably available at your local garden center. If you have a computer go to a search engine and type in "Growing Tomatoes" Lastly keep asking question, it's a life-long learning experience.
digdirt2
16 years ago
You need to post pictures dave...

Will do...when I start them. ;) This coming week is my tomato starting week for early May garden transplant.

Dave
User
16 years ago
This might help

Here is a link that might be useful: Starting from seed

I have a few stupid newbee questions to ask...

Comments (8)

gardenchad

grb1

Related Discussions

digdirt2

sumilea2008
Original Author

PGibbons

tomatoman

digdirt2

User

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

I have a few stupid newbee questions to ask...

Comments (8)

gardenchad

grb1

Related Discussions

digdirt2

sumilea2008Original Author

PGibbons

tomatoman

digdirt2

User

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

sumilea2008
Original Author