Those think-stemmed, dark green transplants for sale in nurseries

[kath]

Originally Posted by cythaenopsis

It's ready for transplant, I think.

If the weather and soil are warm enough, I've transplanted tiny seedlings with stems much thinner than either of the ones you show above, and as long as they're hardened off and the stems are protected from cutworms, they do just fine and will really take off. This year I've done just that during the past 2 weeks and all the plants are growing rapidly. You're in a warmer zone than I am- go for it!

[cythaenopsis]

Originally Posted by kath

If the weather and soil are warm enough, I've transplanted tiny seedlings with stems much thinner than either of the ones you show above, and as long as they're hardened off and the stems are protected from cutworms, they do just fine and will really take off. This year I've done just that during the past 2 weeks and all the plants are growing rapidly. You're in a warmer zone than I am- go for it!

I do see what you mean. When I transplanted one just a couple of days ago, I'm already seeing an amazing growth spurt ahead of the others. It's like the plant detects an absence of barriers and starts sending out more roots that allow it to grow faster. We have had excellent weather in our location, and I could have taken earlier advantage of it. At least I'm not repeating mistakes I made last year.

[Davezone5]

Originally Posted by cythaenopsis

I do see what you mean. When I transplanted one just a couple of days ago, I'm already seeing an amazing growth spurt ahead of the others. It's like the plant detects an absence of barriers and starts sending out more roots that allow it to grow faster. We have had excellent weather in our location, and I could have taken earlier advantage of it. At least I'm not repeating mistakes I made last year.

Exactly, I started all mine in peat pots this year, some a little earlier than others. The ones I started first, I transplanted those into solo cups and they shot up after transplanting them. The ones that stayed in the peat pots stayed pretty small but have since taken off after putting them in the ground.

Also they started getting stockier after moving the seedlings from indoors under a light and fan to outside in a mini hoop house (with the ends open for air flow on warmer days) when it was warm enough.

They're all starting to even out since they've been in the ground and we've had a few good rains.

[Vespertino]

My seedlings were a bit leggy this year and now they're doing well, so I'm not as bummed! I only had problem with the severe winds this spring, the frail stems were shredded and lost a lot of seedlings. I'm glad I had 85+ of them!

[TerpGal]

Mine looked wonderful this year. Not very stocky but very green. I put a little osmocote in the nursery pots when I potted up from the peat pellets. My peppers looked awesome too (no osmocote on those though). I gave my mom a bunch of my extras and she exclaimed they looked just as good as anything in a nursery and that I should go into business LOL. I've been doing this 6 years now. Learn something new every year.