moving my tomato plants to a larger pot?

[murphy99]

Hello all

I am new to this site and also new to growing anything but herbs. I have grown a number of plants from seed and amazingly now have far more plants than I expected. I have been following advice and guidance given to others from this and other sites but now feel I need to ask a question for myself!

some of my tomatoes are now showing the roots coming through the pot should I move them to a bigger pot? They are in 3" pots at the moment, I am planning on getting most of them into grow bags in May (going on holiday so hoping to get everthing out before I go!) but should I give them one more move before then? They are all in my conservatory and I think are looking ok.

Also is it a good idea in this warm weather to open the windows , I also have chilli plants which are progressing but not as fast as the tomatoes and I believe they need the heat!

Thanks for any advice you may have to offer
Helen

[TEB]

Hi Murphy,
Are they going into a greenhouse or outside, if yes to a greenhouse I would plant into your growbags, if outside then depends on what your location is like and do you expect a frost or low night time temperatures, if under 5 or 6 C then I may be inclined to pot up and keep outside and move them back in if the weather looks dodgy.

[SarzWix]

Welcome to the Vine Helen
I'd pot them on into bigger pots (about 5" if you have them), and then start putting them outside in the daytime, back in at night to toughen them up a bit, unless you have heating in your greenhouse? Then they won't get too shocked at being out overnight when you go away.
Your windows, yes, they should be ok to open - the chillis like heat, but not scorchio! as that stops it from producing viable flowers.

[murphy99]

They are going outside, not that far advanced to have a green house :-)

the weather forecast says it should stay around if not over 5 C , but you can't put too much faith in that! maybe its worth risking the few that I have at this stage and put them outside. I have more than I need so this could be a good start for me... maybe I will do a bit of both (bigger pots and grow bags) as I don't fancy dragging grow bags back in at night there isn't enough room in the conservatory as it is!

Thanks for your help.

I read that you should plant basil with them , do you know is that in the same pot or just beside in another pot?

Cheers
Helen

[TEB]

Plant the Basil in its own pot, I also grow marigolds alongside toms.

[murphy99]

well I now have my "first seeded" toms all re-potted and sitting outside hopefully enjoying the beautiful day!

I have put some into growbags and will risk the evening temperatures with them, but most are in larger pots to be brought in on an evening... that will be a long job!!

I seem to have a huge amount of black russian toms so have chosen some of them as the testers for the night time cold...

I have a load more that are my second round of seeding.. I got carried away after the first ones came through so well! I have no idea where I am going to put them all...

Thanks for your help :-)

Cheers
Helen