Separating seedlings

[Samwise]

Hi, some of my seedlings are getting a bit big to be sharing their peat pots and are getting their second leaves, there are 3 in most of the pots, can i separate them out of the peat pots and put them in larger individual pots or do I need to plant the peat pots then wait a while before separating the seedlings?
Thanks

[HeyWayne]

I think if you search for "dibbing" using the search function, you should get what you need.

I think you should be ok, especially if they're getting their second leaves.

[Flummery]

The point of using peat pots is that you can plant the whole thing out. This means you need only one seedling per pot. Generally you would sow only one per pot (especially if it's a seed big enough to handle.) Otherwise you need to pinch out all but the strongest seedling (and you need to be a strong person to do this!
I don't use peat pots myself. I find them hard to keep at the right level of moisture.

[Two_Sheds]

Exactly what Flum says.

If you need to do separating, you need to use plastic pots.

[Cosmo and Dibs]

I find peat pots ger moudly after watering.

[rustylady]

I don't like peat pots. They either go mouldy or dry out so hard that the roots can't grow through them like they are supposed to. What sort of seedlings are they, Samwise?

[HeyWayne]

I hadn't considered the peat pots thing. Quite frankly I didn't even spot it.

[piskieinboots]

I don't use peat pots either - I use modules, single pots or rootrainers depending on what I am growing.

What are your seedlings Samwise?

[Samwise]

I have tomatoes, peppers, spring onions and cucumbers although the cucumbers have a pot each. I tend to put more than one seed in each pot because my house is cold so I'm never sure whether they're going to germinate or not! Also I have a tray under my pots which I keep topped up with a little water and scrape the mould off the pots if it dares to appear!

[Flummery]

In that case I would (in fact I do!) use 3" plastic pots. You can then tease the roots out and give them a pot each when they grow up a bit.

[BUFFS]

just make sure they are well watered before doing any splitting up,done carefully they wont show any signs of being transplanted and will grow away happily with no check to the growth..

[trish60]

Well done for germinating so many.
Leave your strongest seedling in the pot & pull out any seedling close to it.
If you can easily remove any other seedlings without disturbing the strongest pot them up into another pot.

[Jeanied]

What is the compost like, Samwise? Some composts are very open and peaty. When the compost is dry-ish, you can spill it out of the pot, seedlings and all, and the individual seedlings separate very easily. I sometimes pitch out a whole trayfull onto the plot to separate out before planting.
It's a bit like tossing pancakes though - you don't want the seedlings to land on their heads!