Beginner Gardening: When to Pot-Up?, 3 by Gymgirl

Gymgirl wrote:
Peggy,
Tomato seedlings are usually potted up after they get their second set of TRUE leaves. The very first leaves you see are the cotyledons, or 'NURSE' leaves, from which the plant draws its initial nourishment. They'll eventually shrivel up and drop off. You are looking for two complete sets of leaves to come out past the nurse leaves. Then, away we go!

What did you start your seedlings in? What type of container/pot? And, are they under enough light to keep them from growing thin and straggly trying to reach some light? Plain old fluorescent shop lights from HD run approx. $10 for a two light set. I have two sets on each of my shelves, for a total of FOUR lights per shelf. Seedlings need adequate light!

I just started a 2nd batch of tomato seeds on February 14th, in 6 oz. yogurt cups. They're already showing the first true leaves, and by next weekend, I'll be potting them up to drinking water bottles, where they'll grow on until April 3rd. Then, they'll go outside for one week of acclimation to the outdoors (called "Hardening off"), and planting on April 10th.

I'm allowing 8 weeks from sowing to planting. Since it's getting warmer, they can speed the process up by one week, depending on how fast they grow, and how it is outside...

Linda

P.S. Water your seedlings from the top with a Turkey baster for about the 1st four waterings. Add 1 cap of Hydrogen Peroxide to a gallon of tepid water for your watering. After the 4th watering, start watering from the bottom of the trays only. Let em soak up what they want for about 10-15 minutes, then drain the excess out with the Turkey baster. Never let your seedlings soak in the water...

Hugs!