When to transplant question and watering while away..

[5thelement]

Yesterday i noticed my tomato and jalapeno seedlings have the odd root coming out of the bottom of the toilet roll tube pots they're in. The seedlings are about 2-2.5 inches tall and the tomatos all have their first set of true leaves (roughly 15mm long), the chilli's are lagging behind a bit but the true leaves have formed but are still pretty small (i guess chillis grow slower..i hope lol)

With the roots coming out the bottom, is it time to get these into 3 inch pots, or am i being over cautious?

Also, i'll be away for a week soon and wondered what method would be best for keeping these watered if im unable to get someone in to do it for me? would sitting them in the bath filled with half an inch of water suffice? or using the soaked towel method i've also read on here? i just dont want them to die and have wasted the last few weeks!

Any advice would be appreciated

[Capsid]

I tend to transplant the seedlings when they have at least 2 true leaves, so yours are about ready.

Either of the methods of watering you suggest would work. You could try potting into 5" pots as these would dry out less quickly.

[Alice]

5thelement, I'm not sure why you planted your tomatoes and chillies in toilet roll tubes.These are usually used for plants that want to make very long roots very quickly - like parsnips. Toms and chillies could have been planted in 3" pots and would have saved you the transplanting.
I don't think I would leave them in the bath when you go away. They won't get enough light in there. Ideally get someone to water for you. Failing that you could try standing them in a tray of shalloow water and hope for the best.
I hope it all works out for you.

[Eyren]

I would put the toms and chillies somewhere as light as possible, but diffuse the light with some muslin or fine netting in case we have a sunny spell. I potted up mine in 4.5-inch terracotta pots the weekend before Easter, gave them a good drink and haven't watered them since - in this gloomy weather we've been having, they don't transpire (lose water) so quickly.

[teakdesk]

Yesterday i noticed my tomato and jalapeno seedlings have the odd root coming out of the bottom of the toilet roll tube pots they're in. The seedlings are about 2-2.5 inches tall and the tomatos all have their first set of true leaves (roughly 15mm long), the chilli's are lagging behind a bit but the true leaves have formed but are still pretty small (i guess chillis grow slower..i hope lol)

With the roots coming out the bottom, is it time to get these into 3 inch pots, or am i being over cautious?

If you used a seed compot then I would pot on but if you used multi-purpose there will be more nutrients and the extra depth of the toilet roll will give lots of feed.

When you do pot on I would use a new pot at least as deep as the toilet roll so probably a 5 inch pot or even bigger.

Also, i'll be away for a week soon and wondered what method would be best for keeping these watered if im unable to get someone in to do it for me? would sitting them in the bath filled with half an inch of water suffice? or using the soaked towel method i've also read on here?

I would select somewhere cool out of direct sun - a few years ago I used my cool, but bright, bathroom with the plants on a wet towel in the bath. The bath got sun for a few hours during the day so I covered the plants with an old net curtain.

The coolness ensured they didn't grow away and get leggy and the water kept them living.

[5thelement]

Thanks for the replys.

I guess i should of made it clearer, they're not in full size toilet rolls, i made pots by cutting a toilet roll tube in half and folding in the bottom to make a base.

I guess i'll transplant them before we go away, give them a good watering and probably try the towel method and keep them in a spot away from direct sunlight, then hope for the best!