Conflicting tommy advice.

[brownfingers]

I've always saved my own seeds. I start them off in a pot with about half a dozen seeds each pot and then transplant into individual pots when the first true leaves show.

This year I decided to invest in new seeds. The packet advised to sow as I usually do, but leave the seedlings until about 4" to 6" high before potting into individual pots. It begs the question; Is it important when to re pot into individual pots, or will any time do? It seems to make sense to let them get better established by leaving them longer.

[muddled]

First of all, you need to know there are as many ways of doing it as there are gardeners

I do the same as you, I transplant the first time at two true leaves....sometimes, when prop space is an issue I'll even transplant before that.

I would worry, leaving half a dozen seedlings together til they reach four inches, that their roots would become entwined and damaged during transplanting.

But I also know that you only move up one pot size at a time to encourage a strong tight rootball.

So I refer you to Aberdeen Plotter's sage words....if it aint broke, don't fix it

[Penellype]

Depending on how thickly you sow them, I would be concerned to leave them until 4-6" high as if they are crowded they will compete with each other for light and become weak and leggy. I like my toms to have a pot each once they have 2 true leaves, if I have not sown them 1 to a pot in the first place.

[veggiechicken]

I sow 2 to a module and let them both grow until the roots show. Then I split them, or snip off a rubbish one and just pot on one.
I wouldn't let them get to 4-6" in the same pot because, as Muddled said, the roots would be tangled.
Do whatever works for you.

[Thelma Sanders]

I sow mine into a seed tray, and then repot into module trays once they have true leaves.
So do what you always do, if it works ok for you

[Alison]

I grow 1 No per little newspaper pot and then pot on into a 3" pot when the scene leaves appear with zero root disturbance. Do the same for chillies, aubergines and peppers too

[veggiechicken]

6 posts and 5/6 different methods
Any more?

[WendyC]

Nope. I do what Brownfingers does. I agree with leaving too long results in tangled and potentially broken roots when transplanting.

[Bren In Pots]

I grow 1 No per little newspaper pot and then pot on into a 3" pot when the scene leaves appear with zero root disturbance. Do the same for chillies, aubergines and peppers too

I do the same thing Alison, that way I can take the seedling out of the H/prop the minute I see a bit of green above the soil.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

I wait for the first true leaves, and pot on, prick out, call it what you may! As soon as! These babies in result are what you are aiming to get to give you the best crop possible!

Don't let em get over crowded, and give em what space they need!

I certainty wouldn't let them get to that size before moving them on!

[Chris11]

Might not be conflicting advice, but could be mixed messages depending on whether they're talking about:

'Pricking out' small seedlings, from a seed tray or pot like brownfingers describes

or

'Potting on' moving the plants with all compost attached to larger pots, usually burying them deeper at the same time. This would fit the bill at the 4''-6'' stage.

Some gardeners may do one or the other, neither or both of these

[Alison]

I do the same thing Alison, that way I can take the seedling out of the H/prop the minute I see a bit of green above the soil.

Yes, I like that too. It's not to bad with toms as they generally germinate at similar times but I find pricking out from seed trays a bit of a bind.

[vixylix]

I germinate mine in the airing cupboard so they generally pop up fairly long and leggy. As soon as they've recovered to green (a day or two) I re-pot them deeply into their own pots, so usually still at seed leaf stage

[Muddy_Boots]

Well as I'm the worlds worse plotter when it comes to thinning out seedlings and I'm not afraid to admit it.

What I do now is make the paper pots in one of the supermarket clear plastic containers you get fruit in as shown.



I then ONLY sow one seed in each paper pot and then it doesn't matter about those that don't germinate, I just separate and pot on the ones that have. Makes it easy to re-pot without having to untangle them from a mass of roots because I always leave it too late.

[muddled]

sorry, totally off topic.....your signature is fab muddy boots!