What Size Pots?

[vikkib]

Hi all,

I've got some seeds that are starting to germinate and I had hoped to have some beds prepared ready for them to go into by now.

Unfortunately it doesn't look like that is going to happen in time so I'd like to plant my seedlings into pots, at least for now, and possibly for the whole of this year while I get the beds properly prepared.

I've heard it said that you can grow pretty much anything in pots but my question is, for the plants below, what size pots should I use?

Is it a case of the bigger the better? Should I refer to the spacing guides on the seed packets and try and get a pot that will give them the same space they should be allocated in a bed?

I'm growing/would like to grow:

Courgettes
Aubergines
Butternut Squash
Chilli's
Peppers
Mange Tout
Dwarf Beans
Early Sprouting Purple Broccoli

Any help gratefully received!

Vikki

[Iamhanuman]

it'll all be to do with root spread/length etc etc
someone very knowledgable will be along soon to help!!!!

[zazen999]

Hi Vikki

I never plant my seedlings into any sized pots at first. What I do is use 2-3 inch pots first, and then move upwards as they grow.

Courgettes
Butternut Squash
Early Sprouting Purple Broccoli

The above will end up in as large a pots as you can find....the larger the better and they will need a good final mix of compost, I'd recommend grow bag mix as it has lots of manure in it

Aubergines
Chilli's
Peppers
Mange Tout
Dwarf Beans

These will end up in smaller pots, the beans and mange t in deep style pots, and you can fit quite a few plants in each.

The trick is to keep an eye on the base of the pot and when the roots show, move it up a size.

As you can see from my pic, I have dwarf beans in pots indoors, there are about 6-10 in each, and I have just sown another 5 in each to grow up as the first ones are finished. The toms are in pots which would go up 2 or 3 sizes as they grow.

[vikkib]

Thanks so much for the info Zazen.

My Nan gave me loads of different sized pots recently and they range from a couple of inches to about 8 inches so I think I will invest in some bigger pots so I'm ready for the final stage!

I am so excited! I popped upstairs to check for any replies and checked on my seed cells at the same time and my courgette seeds have sprouted! I can't believe how big the leaves are bearing in mind there was pretty much no sign of them yesterday!

I'll let them get a little more established and check the base of the cell for roots then move them from the cell into a little 3" pot.

Thanks so much again!

Vikki

(PS - grow bags on order from the garden centre now! )

[Iamhanuman]

see i told you - a Grape of Wisdom appeared!

congrats on the sprouts!!!

[vikkib]

Thanks Iamhanuman!

And you were certainly right, so much wisdom abound!