Tomatoes - when to pot on?

[therose75]

Hi all!

I'm growing various tomatoes for the first time and would like to know when I should transplant them into bigger pots before finally putting them in planters outside.

Most of them are currently in those 2" plastic half pint type cups that you can buy anywhere.

The tallest plant is currently around 6"

Thanks for any help!

[Cadalot]

When they are looking unstable in their pots, mine start life in 20mm x 20mm x 30mm deep modules then move into vending machine cups then 4" pots then 6" pots and finally Flower Buckets, at each stage check they have a good root system in the pot they are in but are no becoming root bound and plant deeper as the hairs on the stem will form surface roots but what you are really after is good well established deep root system.

[therose75]

Thanks Cadalot!

Is there any benefit to potting on gradually or can I go straight from a 2" pot to a 6"? Never really understood why people pot on 3 or 4 times.

[skeggijon]

Giving the roots too much space encourages the plant to concentrate on root growth instead of top growth and ideally we need to find a balance between the two.
At least that's how I understand it - an expert will probably be along shortly!

[Bigmallly]

I've never bothered potting up in stages, once the pot becomes root bound I put them in their final buckets.

[Cadalot]

Thanks Cadalot!

Is there any benefit to potting on gradually or can I go straight from a 2" pot to a 6"? Never really understood why people pot on 3 or 4 times.

The benefit is in establishing a good deep root system, some times I will jump the 6" pot stage and plant in a flower bucket but will earth up like a potato as they get taller as the hairs on the stem turn into roots. That way they have root deep down and on the surface and tend to need less watering and the stem becomes thicker.

[Jonnyt]

4 inch pot to final location for me. All are now over 12 inches tall and in the final locations be that growbags or Flower Buckets.

6 inch pots is a total waste of time as with a bit of high nitrogen feed they will grow very large and healthy in a 4 inch pot

[Potstubsdustbins]

Depends sometimes I have no choice to pot on as I have to wait for their final positions to become available.

[therose75]

Thanks guys! So I guess I'm ok to pot on using plastic pint glasses? Or are they too narrow at the bottom?