Potting on

[wizzbang]

A very silly question perhaps but a question I have always wanted to ask.

Why do we pot on and not pot straight from strong seedling into the final pot, tomatoes for example, or straight into the ground once the plant has been hardened off for cucumbers going straight into a poly tunnel or the ground somewhere? Why the need to keep increasing pot size?
Lynne x

[rustylady]

It gives the seedlings chance to develop a good root system without being overwhelmed by cold wet compost.

[rustylady]

You only need a couple of changes of pot anyway. Mine go into a 3" pot when they have two true leaves, and when they have filled that pot they go in 5" pots. Roots fill that and then they go into their final Morrison's flower buckets.

[wizzbang]

Thank you once again.
I've always wondered what the proper reason was.
Lynne x

[wizzbang]

If I pot on my cucumbers, courgettes, beans etc, how long do they have to be in their second pot. Would a week be long enough?
I haven't potted them on yet because of being really busy but its already time to put them in the poly and they are nice and sturdy, I feel the urge to put them straight into prepared ground in the tunnel. Would I be silly to put them in straight away?
Lynne x

[rustylady]

No Lynne, potting on for just a week is a waste of time and compost. How big are the plants at the moment (how many leaves per plant)?

[wizzbang]

The two baby ones and two sets of proper ones. They are about 4 inches tall, that's the cucumbers. the courgettes are as tall nearly but only have one set of proper leaves I think. I will have to go and have another look.
Ive been digging all morning.
Got another question but not got time to find the right thread till later today,
Lynne x

[rustylady]

I should think the cucumbers at least could go into the pollywollydoodah.

Are you going to grow the courgettes in the poly or outside?

[wizzbang]

I should think the cucumbers at least could go into the pollywollydoodah.

Are you going to grow the courgettes in the poly or outside?

I was going to put them in the poly too.
Courgettes,
tomatoes,
Cucumber
some salads (or do you think it will get too hot in there for salads?
and some runner beans and some yellow beans like runner beans that I got from B&Q

What else would be good in there.
I'm going to put my tiny beetroots into the soil this afternoon... hopefully.
Lynne x
PS im still looking for somewhere to ask my soil question, ive come in for a breather and to post my question and hopefully shift a massive headache!

[Creemteez]

To know when something needs potting on, check the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. If the roots are just visible, then it's probably ready for a bigger pot. If the roots are coming out of the drainage holes, it DEFINITELY is!

[kathyd]

I was going to put them in the poly too.
Courgettes,
tomatoes,
Cucumber
some salads (or do you think it will get too hot in there for salads?
and some runner beans and some yellow beans like runner beans that I got from B&Q

What else would be good in there.
I'm going to put my tiny beetroots into the soil this afternoon... hopefully.
Lynne x
PS im still looking for somewhere to ask my soil question, ive come in for a breather and to post my question and hopefully shift a massive headache!

I've got peppers in mine Lynne, and am trying to get my melon seeds to germinate so they can join them. I also grow carrots in the tunnel which seems to have helped so far against carrot fly. I have salads too, which seem Ok most of the time as long as I remember to water them and ventilate properly. I also have a small peach tree and a dwarf apricot at the moment, although I suspect the peach will get too big eventually. Oh, and a m2 of strawberries!