How do I transfer my sun flowers to larger pots?

Discussion in 'NEW Gardeners !' started by kairos, Apr 27, 2014.

  1. kairos

    kairos Apprentice Gardener

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    Hi,
    My limit to gardening has been tomato plants in grow bags and runner beans!
    This year we have planted sun flower seeds in plastic containers (Tesco trays) in our conservatory and now they are about 3 inches high with four leaves. ( starting to go a bit yellow). I want to eventually plant them out in 12 inch pots. What do I do next and what soil should I be using is tomato grow bag compost Ok ?
    kairos.
     
  2. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Hello and welcome to the forum karios.

    You need to carefully tease them out and transplant them in individual pots in multi-purpose compost (I wouldn't use grow bag compost that is too coarse). Handle them by the lower (seed) leaves as little as possible, use a pencil to tease them out of the existing tray with as much root as possibe. Give them a good soaking first and leave for 30 minutes to ensure each seedling is fully hydrated. I use these square pots from Wilkos as they are cheap and easy to fit a few close together:

    http://www.wilko.com/seed-trays-pla...-plant-pot-square-black-7cm-x-15/invt/0297682

    Once transplanted keep the compost moist but not saturated.
     
  3. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    Hello and welcome:)

    The best way I've found to get young plants out of cells without damaging them (the plant) is this. Take a cheapo pen, and with the wrong end (ie not the pointy, writing end but the blunt end) push it into the drainage hole in the bottom of the cell. The whole thing then just pops out intact (usually). If you send the pointy end in first, all that happens is it goes straight into the compost, damaging the young roots while at the same time compressing the compost out over, so that its harder to get the young plant out.
     
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