Transplanting chillies from a 3" pot to a 10 litre pot

[dave_100]

I'll be growing prairie fire and ring of fire chillies next Spring, and I'm trying to work out what pot sizes I need. Will a transplant from a small 3" pot straight into a 10.5", 10 litre pot be too much for the little chilli to handle?

I know they like to go up a pot size in stages but I'm trying to weigh up the shock of multiple transplants vs a little chilli being lost in a big pot.

[veggiechicken]

What's wrong with potting them on in stages? If that's whats recommended, then why not do it?

[dave_100]

What's wrong with potting them on in stages? If that's whats recommended, then why not do it?

The hassle, the potential transplant shock and me not knowing what pot size to go to in between. Any thoughts or advice welcomed.

[4Shoes]

I start in 6cm dia, Pot to 9cm dia and then to 11cm Sq Pots. Then up to 10l pots. Works for me.

Suspect prairie fire will not need 10l pot, but will do no harm

[Small pumpkin]

Mine go from germination into a 3" pot, from that into 1lt pot, then into final pot that can be anything from 7lt to 100lt.
I've never had a problem with transplant shock.

[Logunner]

How many seeds do you plant for each variety? Never grown chillies....

[Small pumpkin]

How many seeds do you plant for each variety? Never grown chillies....

I usually sow 3 or 4 seeds to make sure I get one plant. If they are fresh seed that is, more if the seed is a bit old. If they all germinate you can swap them with other growers. Normal people (not sure I can include myself) grow 1 or 2 plants of each variety they want. Chillies are generally very heavy producers and you don't need many plants.

[Scarlet]

I'm similar to SP, mine go from a tiny pot ( about an inch) to square 3inch pots and then the final pot.
As a rule you don't want them sitting in cold wet soil. So make sure the soil has been in situ for awhile.
You need to grow a few things to find out what works well for you.

[Scarlet]

I usually sow 3 or 4 seeds to make sure I get one plant. If they are fresh seed that is, more if the seed is a bit old. If they all germinate you can swap them with other growers. Normal people (not sure I can include myself) grow 1 or 2 plants of each variety they want. Chillies are generally very heavy producers and you don't need many plants.

Also some seedlings can be much stronger than other so you can have a choice on which one you keep ......and then decide to keep them all

[Scarlet]

Never grown chillies....

OMG! You haven't lived Put some seeds on your Christmas list!

[Mitzi]

Mine go from Jiffy 7 to 1l pot to final pot.

Second Scarlet's advice that warming the compost before potting on (and watering with tepid not cold water) helps prevent transplant shock. Then keep them on the dry side until established in the new pot.

[Philthy]

Jiffy pot to 1L to 4L in year 1.
15L in year 2.
Size upgrade year 3 to be determined at the time.

Prairie Fire is a dwarf plant. It doesn't need a huge pot even when fully grown. 10L sounds like it could be overkill.

[Mitzi]

Is 10l about the size of a MFB?

[Small pumpkin]

Is 10l about the size of a MFB?

Think they are about 7lt

[Scarlet]

Prairie Fire is a dwarf plant. It doesn't need a huge pot even when fully grown. 10L sounds like it could be overkill.

Yes! That's a big pot for a windowsill

Deffo too big for small growing chilli varieties- that's a big as most of my pots get.