Potting on

[blossom]

Hi all,
I'm new to growing veg from seeds. I have some propergators with cells. I have been planting one seed of different things in each cell. On a couple of packets they say to transfer to 3 inch pots an dthen 6 inch pots, but they say to sow in a tray in the first place.
I had figured that this was just to seperate them and that i would be ok letting mine grow a bit bigger in their cell beore bunging them straight into the 6 inch pots. I read somewhere though that it can stunt some plants growth if you don't use the 3 inch an dthen the 6 inch pot. I had thought that less moving around would be better for the plant.
Is my logic totaly wrong?

By the way, if it helps I am growing aubergines, chilis, tomatoes and lettice in these cells. Also, I will be growing mange tou (or however it is spelt) in pots. My first lot I have sown straight into a pot. Would it be worth trying to start some off in the house for my next lot?

Thanks for any advice

[Geordie]

The answer is yes and no Blossom. Some plants hate to be repotted and some are done a few times before they get to the final position.

If you take tomatoes for example, when you repot them from the initial seed sowing tray or pot to the next pot, plant them so the first pair of leaves are just above the surface. This will enable the plant to form a second string of roots, growing form the main stem as well as the ones hanging off the bottom of the plant. You can then pot on once more before the final pot or growbag, if needed, to establish a third tier of roots.

Repotting is also a good way of taming 'leggy' seedlings which you often get with early sown plants especially in a propergator.

[blossom]

So it is ok to cover some of the stem then? I had assumed it would rot. Are there any plants which I must not do this with?

Thanks

[Jaxom]

I need to re pot on and cover up leggy growth so would be interested in which need burying up to their necks and which would hate it?
Jax

[andrewo]

Tomatoes are the only veg plant I know at present where you can plant the stem up to the first leaves in compost without fear of rotting, this is because they belong to the same family as potatoes (which when you earth up, you do the same to), so I would make a calculated guess that any vegetable or flower in this family would have the same characteristics. They belong to deadly nightshade family (yes, tomatoes can be poisonous!!! But the varieties we deal with are not).

[andrewo]

Lettuce cannot be potted on well and need to be put outside when potting on. Aubergines are fine with potting on but need plenty of water. Chillies should be potted on into their final pot.

[nick the grief]

I grow winter lettuce in pots OK Andrew.

[Alice]

I'm not an expert Blossom, but when I pot on seedlings if they're a bit leggy I always plant right up to the seed leaves and I've never had a problem. Good luck.

[Lesley Jay]

I'm the same as you Nick with lettuce. Sprinkle the seeds into a pot and then transfer the seedlings to a seed tray and finally plant out side.

[andrewo]

Never had any luck with lettuce in pots, always get too leggy and die.

[nick the grief]

I always grow some for winter & an early spring crop in pots. It's nice to have a homegrown one in november.

[blossom]

Thanks very much. My lettuce has shot up very quickly, and have fallen over. Oups, that can't be good.

[nick the grief]

that could be the heat of the greenhouse Blossom. Try puting it lower down if you have double staging where it's cooler.

[andrewo]

It will be okay when you plant out, just plant them deeper. I always go for mix salad leaves or cut and come again, in the event this happens.

Loads of varieties here:
http://www.vidaverde.co.uk/salads.html

[blossom]

Thanks very much, theyy are actualy in a warm room in my house. Oups. Oh well, there are only 6 so far and loads more seeds if those ones fail.