Potting on or bigger pot?

[darcyvuqua]

Just thinking to myself is there any benefits or set backs in potting on?

I mean would it benefit from maybe one move from a seed cell tray to a small pot to get established then on to final pot to promote root growth and plant strength or small steps into 5,7,9 inch pots (example) then the final growing place!

I have seen a few programmes potting on through the stages of growth but less movement I would have thought should be better
Any feedback would be great

[Aberdeenplotter]

At the end of the day, it depends on the growing conditions. If all is peachy in the growing world, it is neither too hot or too cold, it is neither too dry or too wet, then it is safe to plant out direct from cell trays. On the other hand if the conditions are not suitable and the plant has outgrown its quarters, then a bigger pot is needed. In practice sometimes it is necessary to pot on a few time until there is a good planting window available.

[rustylady]

What AP said really, plus if you put a small plant into a large pot full of soggy compost it may suffer a real setback and the roots may even rot. I think fairly gradual moves are better.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Because off restricted gorwing space I have to go for successional sowing, therefore potting on is a must in order to have the plants at the right size to go into their final place.

Its starts in a cell then thumb pot and so on in stages until it goes from a 6" pot into its final place.

Potty

[Dusty Rhodes]

It also depends on what vegetable(s) you are talking about. You need to be specific.

[solway cropper]

My tomatoes and peppers go from cells to 3 inch pots then to their final positions. Most other stuff goes from cells to final positions or from seed tray to small pot to final. I must admit that some look a bit pot-bound when they are moved but they seem to survive.