Tomato seedlings transplant from propagator to small pots

[Paulcoldman]

Hi everyone
New to this forum but want some advice around tomato seedlings.

I have a propagator that I germinated moneymaker tomatoes 3/4/20 they became visible and sprouted leaves after day 7 managed to germinate 32/40 seeds. I've transplanted them individually from propagator into 3 inch pots and placed back on the window seal taking in natural sunlight and I've made some homemade sunlight reflectors using shiny side foil and cardboard to stop the seedlings from legging one way towards the light. Two questions I need answers and advice for.

1, how long from first pot transfer shall I wait before starting to temper them to the outdoors and going into the ground as I do not have shed space and equipment to be repot ting for the foreseeable 😂😂.
2, I've had maybe 4/5 of the seedlings wilt stem and leaves almost immediately after transplant I imagine it's root damage or just shock but would love some advice around how long will it take for the wilted seedlings to recover some that slightly wilted improve immediately once it settled etc so yea thoughts would helpful.

Note started germinating 3rd April so I'm on day 12 and transplanted was that right or should I have waited they did all have the sprouting leave set and one more set sprouting so two sets of leaves.

[Can the Man]

Welcome to the vine Paul, sorry I’ve no experience with growing toms so can’t offer any advice. I’m sure some of the elder lemons will be along soon with some words of wisdom

[SarrissUK]

Not elder but I have a few years of tomato growing behind me

First of all, welcome to the Vine Most of the members are a bit crackers but we all mean well lol

Right.. tomato seedlings can be a bit fragile - always handle them by the leaves, not the stem.

Once you see roots coming out of the bottom they are ripe for potting on, but if I'm honest, I tend to keep them in pots no larger than 1 litre until I put them out in their final position in late May or early June.

You will find your own way, what works under your conditions and what doesn't. I have a bit of knowledge, but I don't follow it myself always. The only thing I am very careful with is that I don't put them outside or in an unheated greenhouse until well after the last frost. I learnt a lesson one year when all my plants died

[veggiechicken]

Hi Paul and welcome.

I'm not sure that I'm an "elder lemon" whatever that is, but you'll have to make do with a pseudo chicken!

I'll tell you what I do with tomato seeds.
I sow them in modules - maybe 3/4 to a module and put them in the propagator. One they show signs of life I take them out of the prop and put them somewhere light and warm - like a windowsill.
Then I let them grow until they have their first set of true leaves (not the seed leaves that are a different shape).
Next I decide how many plants I actually want to grow - even though 35 seeds germinate, you may only want to grow 12, so pick out the strongest and pot them on.

They stay on the windowsill until the overnight temperature is 10C+ although they often make the journey out to the GH in the day and back in at night.

Your questions - if they've wilted and haven't recovered the following day, cull them. Sometimes I'm hard!!

[toomanytommytoes]

I usually keep transplanted seedlings in shade until they perk back up. Didn't take long with the tomato transplants last week, maybe about an hour or two following a good watering.

[smallblueplanet]

Whenever you transplant them be gentle with them, hold them by the leaves. You can bury them/their stems deep if they've 'shot' or stretched for the light. They will root from their stems. After transplanting do not stress them by putting them in strong light, let them recover in shade for a day.

[Squingy]

Hi everyone
New to this forum but want some advice around tomato seedlings.

1, how long from first pot transfer shall I wait before starting to temper them to the outdoors and going into the ground
.

When to put out depends on your "last frost date" which is the time when you're near guaranteed to NOT get an overnight frost which will kill young seedlings put outside.
Of course depends on where you are located. If you put in yr location on this website will tell you when is yours so you can safely put yr toms out without worying about letting frost killed.
https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/adju...d-alphabet.php
Example mine is last week of April I will be hardening off from a week or two before.

OMG that's like now...

Good luck.