Best time to Transplant

jwr6404 · February 12, 2006

I've tried again to grow Tomato plants from seed. I have never been successful in previous efforts at this. I planted them last Sunday and most are 1-2 inches tall and spindly. I'm worried they will begin to fall over. I grew them,for the first time using Jiffy peat pellets. They are on a hot pad set at the lowest temperature and under a grow light. I feel,rightly or wrongly, that I should transfer them to a 3' container. If so when and how deep should I plant them?

**Mischka** · February 12, 2006

I'm certain you'll receive an answer or two shortly.

I do not start my seeds for another month. Any time earlier isn't suitable for here in zone 5b.

NCTIM · February 12, 2006

Here's what I think.

Remove the heat pad. The warm soil will encourage fast growth which will result in spindly seedlings. Carolyn and others have stated that bottom heat isn't needed for Tomato seed germination. It will hasten the germination period but when a few pop up remove the pad.

The ambient air temperture should be around 65 degrees or so. Cooler is better than hotter at this point.

Be sure the shoplights are within an inch or two of the seedlings. If not, they will stretch towards the light. Run the lights about 16 hrs a day.

Water at a minimum. Good and dry before watering will be better than maintaining a damp mix.

Running a fan so that a slight breeze is blowing across your plants will make the stems thicker.

Transplant seedling to an individual container when the first set of true leaves appear.

If all efforts fail and you still have a spindly or leggey seedling with it's first true leaves, don't worry. The seedling will be transplanted deeply. Set it to a depth that's just below the first set of true leaves.

The same things apply to the new transplanted seedling or they too will get leggy.

Hope this helps,

Tim

**carolyn137** · February 12, 2006

jwr,

I did repsond earlier but it wouldn't post so now I've typed in the subject title, which I haven't had to do before and didn't do when I posted in another thread here earlier this AM, and did tell Mischka about it.

What I said was to get them off the heating pad ASAP and into a larger container. One can transplant when the seedlings are about 2 inches tall or have their first set of true leaves, meaning not the cotyledons, which appear first.

After a few days to allow them to settle in make sure you grow them at a cool temperature b'c the two main factors that allow for getting strong stocky plants are slow growth at cool temps.

Temps can be as low as 60 F but anything less than heat pad temp helps.

I sow seeds in a seed pan, never Jiffy pellets, b'c I like to be able to transplant directly into cells, 4/pack and 8 packs to the tray insert.

Carolyn, who forgot what else she said in her initial post here.

Carolyn

sweetwm007 · February 14, 2006

JWR- i totally agree with the previous posts. who would not? there are more steps to go as carolyn has alluded.
i have come up with a somewhat bucolic and lazy method. i am like scott in texas. seed starting and potting up are kinda like painting a house. you gotta be brain dead and if not, when your are finished, you are!
i use jiffy sevens cause i'm lazy. never had any problems with tomatoes but am somewhat suspect with pepper seed. after the plants get their first true leaves, i set the entire jiffy seven in a small translucent plastic cup and fill this up with soiless mix. get the plants as close to the top of the cup as you can. put soil in the bottom to get the leaves even with the top of the cup so you can get as much light as possible. when these babies become robust, maybe 4-5 inches, i take them up to a cup size you would mix a nice boubon and coke in. i am not good with oz's. do the same thing, just pour the soiless mix in and keep the plant as close to the top as you can. i keep my lights as close as possible [ shop lights]. 1 inch if i can. i do not put drain holes in any cups because i like to judge by weight how much moisture is in or out. you can easily tell when one is dry. this has worked for me for many years with no problems. if you find a way to make this easier, be sure to email me ASAP. i guess sticking them in the ground might be!
william

ajax · February 26, 2006

William, you pot up twice and call yourself lazy??

sweetwm007 · February 27, 2006

ajax- well kinda. had my wife do the first one and i did the second. don't worry bout the mule, load the wagon!!!!
i was in china while the first repotting had to be done. when i was back in philly, i did the second step. she did a very good job too!
william

ajax · February 27, 2006

Hmmm...that's a thought, perhaps I can get my hubby to do a re-pot....how cheap are tickets to China?

February 12, 2006	#1
jwr6404 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: University Place, WA Posts: 481	Best time to Transplant I've tried again to grow Tomato plants from seed. I have never been successful in previous efforts at this. I planted them last Sunday and most are 1-2 inches tall and spindly. I'm worried they will begin to fall over. I grew them,for the first time using Jiffy peat pellets. They are on a hot pad set at the lowest temperature and under a grow light. I feel,rightly or wrongly, that I should transfer them to a 3' container. If so when and how deep should I plant them? __________________ Jim

February 12, 2006	#2
Mischka Tomatoville® Administrator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Bay State Posts: 3,207	I'm certain you'll receive an answer or two shortly. I do not start my seeds for another month. Any time earlier isn't suitable for here in zone 5b. __________________ Mischka One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

February 12, 2006	#3
NCTIM Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: zone 8 NC Posts: 286	Here's what I think. Remove the heat pad. The warm soil will encourage fast growth which will result in spindly seedlings. Carolyn and others have stated that bottom heat isn't needed for Tomato seed germination. It will hasten the germination period but when a few pop up remove the pad. The ambient air temperture should be around 65 degrees or so. Cooler is better than hotter at this point. Be sure the shoplights are within an inch or two of the seedlings. If not, they will stretch towards the light. Run the lights about 16 hrs a day. Water at a minimum. Good and dry before watering will be better than maintaining a damp mix. Running a fan so that a slight breeze is blowing across your plants will make the stems thicker. Transplant seedling to an individual container when the first set of true leaves appear. If all efforts fail and you still have a spindly or leggey seedling with it's first true leaves, don't worry. The seedling will be transplanted deeply. Set it to a depth that's just below the first set of true leaves. The same things apply to the new transplanted seedling or they too will get leggy. Hope this helps, Tim __________________ "You can observe a lot by just watching." - Yogi Berra

February 12, 2006	#4
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	When to transplant jwr, I did repsond earlier but it wouldn't post so now I've typed in the subject title, which I haven't had to do before and didn't do when I posted in another thread here earlier this AM, and did tell Mischka about it. What I said was to get them off the heating pad ASAP and into a larger container. One can transplant when the seedlings are about 2 inches tall or have their first set of true leaves, meaning not the cotyledons, which appear first. After a few days to allow them to settle in make sure you grow them at a cool temperature b'c the two main factors that allow for getting strong stocky plants are slow growth at cool temps. Temps can be as low as 60 F but anything less than heat pad temp helps. I sow seeds in a seed pan, never Jiffy pellets, b'c I like to be able to transplant directly into cells, 4/pack and 8 packs to the tray insert. Carolyn, who forgot what else she said in her initial post here. Carolyn

February 14, 2006	#5
sweetwm007 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: yellville, arkansas Posts: 29	JWR- i totally agree with the previous posts. who would not? there are more steps to go as carolyn has alluded. i have come up with a somewhat bucolic and lazy method. i am like scott in texas. seed starting and potting up are kinda like painting a house. you gotta be brain dead and if not, when your are finished, you are! i use jiffy sevens cause i'm lazy. never had any problems with tomatoes but am somewhat suspect with pepper seed. after the plants get their first true leaves, i set the entire jiffy seven in a small translucent plastic cup and fill this up with soiless mix. get the plants as close to the top of the cup as you can. put soil in the bottom to get the leaves even with the top of the cup so you can get as much light as possible. when these babies become robust, maybe 4-5 inches, i take them up to a cup size you would mix a nice boubon and coke in. i am not good with oz's. do the same thing, just pour the soiless mix in and keep the plant as close to the top as you can. i keep my lights as close as possible [ shop lights]. 1 inch if i can. i do not put drain holes in any cups because i like to judge by weight how much moisture is in or out. you can easily tell when one is dry. this has worked for me for many years with no problems. if you find a way to make this easier, be sure to email me ASAP. i guess sticking them in the ground might be! william

February 26, 2006	#6
ajax Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: East TN Posts: 63	William, you pot up twice and call yourself lazy??

February 27, 2006	#7
sweetwm007 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: yellville, arkansas Posts: 29	ajax- well kinda. had my wife do the first one and i did the second. don't worry bout the mule, load the wagon!!!! i was in china while the first repotting had to be done. when i was back in philly, i did the second step. she did a very good job too! william