Tumbling Toms/100's & 1000's - root trainer or 3" pot

[onefivenine]

Hi there,

I've got a 20 cell root trainer tray and a small heated propagator (Stewart 38cm) which is too small for the root trainer tray unfortunately.

Can I just sow Tumbling Toms and 100's and 1000's in the heated propagator straight into 3" pots singly and then move them outdoors into hanging baskets when they're grown enough?

Would it be better to try and use some of the root trainers in the heated propagator? Then pot them on into 3" pots before eventually moving to hanging baskets?

[TEB]

Personally I wouldn't waste root trainers on Toms, I would go from the propogator into 3" pots and once hardy or frost free plant them out.

[onefivenine]

Thanks TEB.

I am thinking of using the root trainers to sow dwarf french beans in actually.

So must you use modules first for the Tom seeds? is there a reason not to just sow them in 3" pots in the first place?

[TEB]

Trainers are great for legumes and is what I use them for, no reason why you shoudn't do it straight into 3" pots, most people use modules/trays/propogators (I imagine) because they can get more on their window sills

[Irie Jan]

Toms are happy enough started off in seed trays on a windowsill or in a nice warm airing cupboard. If you do the latter then make sure you check them a bit more often so they dont dry out to fast! In either case you can put some clingfilm over the tray, punch a few small air holes in the film though. Then as soon as they germinate get them out of the cupboard and put them on a nice sunny windowsill. Remove the cling film as well or they will be too wet and encourage mould and damping off problems

Sow them quite well spaced in the tray,say a couple of inches or so apart. Then they are easy to prick out at just past first true leaf stage into 3" pots. I wait till I can just see the second set to true leaves on the way, by then they will have a nice root system developing! I use an old dinner fork to gently dig the seedling from the tray!

[onefivenine]

Ah right thanks, I'm learning all the time! Have already planted some broad beans straight into a raised bed but I might try a few backups in the root trainers also also with the dwarf french beans.

I'm only planning on growing a half dozen or so of these bush tomato plants so I think I'll sow them in 3" pots in the heated propagator and then when they have true leaves move them into a growhouse to try to harden then a bit before they go into baskets.

[Flummery]

I start my toms a few at a time in 3" pots. Then I transfer to one pot each. Don't use a propagator just because I haven't got one and I never felt the need sufficiently to buy one either!

[onefivenine]

Thanks folks for the replies

I'm just wondering... how big should I grow them in the heated propagator before moving them to the growhouse? Until the first true leaves appear?

And then, after how long in the growhouse should I move them into outdoor baskets?

Sorry I've got more questions than I realise at the moment! And one often leads to many more!

[TEB]

I would turn off the propogator and remove the lid once they have germinated, I wouldn't put them where the temperature is less than 10C, once the frosts have disappeared then gradually harden them off outside ready for final planting, so it more down to the temperature rather than size (you could always pot them into bigger pots as necessary).

[Victoria26]

I germinated all my tomatoes in an unheated propagator and as soon as they were big enough to move I put them in root trainers.

Once the tumblers had a few true leaves I transplanted them into a hanging garden bag and am currently waiting for them to settle in.

[onefivenine]

I would turn off the propogator and remove the lid once they have germinated.

Cheers TEB

Does that apply when germinating all seeds?

[Victoria26]

yes when they have germinated the best thing to do is let them breathe.

[onefivenine]

yes when they have germinated the best thing to do is let them breathe.

Thanks again V.

Thats good actually, that will free up the propagator sooner than if they stayed under it for any length of time after germinating.

How does this sound for a step by step plan?

Step 1 - sow in modules/tray in propagator
Step 2 - seeds germinate - remove from propagator
Step 3 - when 1st true leaves appear, pick out into Root Trainers
Step 4 - when 3 or so sets of true leaves appear pot on into 3" pot in growhouse
Step 5 - transplant into basket
Step 6 - eat them!

[Storming Norman]

Six pots of the same bush tomatoes, all planted at the same time, is a lot of eating - they tend to mature all at once I can recall from my last planting [3 of these]. I gave loads away.

If you don't have a big family it might be worth trying to space this out a bit - some grown in the propagator and some not perhaps?

Just a thought.

Ann

[Flummery]

Miss out step 3 - go staight to 3" pots after true leaves appear (do not pass GO - do not collect £200!)