Tomatoes Planting

Hi All

I think the Toms below are ready to put in 3" pots as stated in the magazine I have "Kitchen Garden" March 2008. The mag also say's you should plant them deeper up to the leaves I have never done this before, is this right??

Dave

 

Someone may correct me, but I think you pot them on when they have true leaves - yours only seem to have their seed leaves.

You do bury them deeper each time they're potted on (they grow more roots through the buried stem), but I don't think up to their leaves - I'd say about 1/4 of the way up.

Please feel free to correct me, anyone...

 

I pot mine on as soon as they are big enough to handle. never had a problem as long as they are buried quite deep.

 

Don't think it is important as to timing, I do push them in a bit deeper, but not much as I prefer to keep the leaves clear of the compost in case of rot.

About half way I suppose!

 

The longer you leave them in the seedling tray, the stronger they get but they also grow a lot of root that can make potting up more difficult. I usually wait for the first pair of proper leaves then pot up ASAP to just below the level of the leaves. Although they are too young to grow root from higher up the stem, this does support the thin stem from keeling over. As Timecharger says, later on, they do produce more feeding root from higher up the stem so when doing the final pot on, leave plenty of room for topping up the compost.

 

Yup, first pair of proper leaves, I'm just about to start transplanting mine, I've grown each in individual 2" pots, will transplant to 3" pots, harden off the outdoor ones and finally transplant into 12"+ pots. Growing in pots by stages, there's no root disturbance and good healthy plants...... doing the same with my chilies