when to pot on

[Tigerella]

Hi

Is there a best time to transfer seedlings into bigger pots.
I am just about to repot some tomato seeedlings, there are at the 2 leaf stage.
But I want them in 3" pots so I can put a clear lid over the pot.

T

[shirlthegirl43]

For tomatoes the way I judge is that when their roots are showing through the bottom of the pot it is time to pot on.

[rustylady]

Where are your seedlings at the moment? I start mine off in 3 and a half inch pots, twelve seeds per pot, and pot them on into cell trays when they have two true leaves. They stay in their cells till the roots fill them and then get potted on either into bigger pots (3 or four inch pots) and then into their final 12 inch pots or growbags.

[Tigerella]

Hi

I have some toms in 1 inch pots.

I like to use these as they are easy to pot on without any disturbance.

Some things I just sow any-old-how, in pots or trays.

T

[allotmentlady]

I use biodegradable pots then when they need repotting I dont touch them at all! Then they can be planted out where-ever!

[Alice]

You can put them in 3" pots Tigerella, but I'm not sure what you want to do with the clear lid. They shouldn't need it as this stage. If they are indoors they will be fine. If they're in an unheated greenhouse, put some fleece over them at night.
I had good results with Tigerella outdoors last year in a really miserable summer. Hope your toms do great for you.

[Flummery]

Hi Tigerella. If your toms only have the seed leaves I wouldn't pot them on yet. Wait till they have true leaves. Otherwise the little plant may not have enough, or strong enough, roots to survive the move.

[Tigerella]

Hi

I live in a terraced house, so I dont get much sunlight.
So I try and put my seedlings outside when-ever I can, and bring them in on a night-time.
I will try and move more thing to the lotty when the seeds/pots are bigger.

This is my first full year.

Nigel

[Gazza]

I potted my tom seedlings on this weekend, following the advice of you guys. But alas, this morning when checked some of the first straighter leaves are going brown!! The second set of leaves [the curlyer[sp] ones] all seem good. Is this whats supposed to happen? As no greenhouse have been putting them out and bringing them in at night or whenever weather to extreme for them. Help I dont want to loose these littluns.

[Flummery]

Usually when the seed leaves go brown it's because the plant is under some stress. It's usually best to keep them sheltered for a few days when they've been potted on. I tend to put them in the shade for a day or so. They should recover. I'm still bringing mine in every night and they are further on than yours. Still cold!