When to transplant?!

AZGardener · January 18, 2013

Hello gardeners! I have started two trays of 72 about a 10 days apart. The oldest tray is mostly tomatoes with about 10 peppers and 4 tomatillos. Except the peppers, the tomatoes all have about 4 leaves and are pushing 4 inches tall. I only have one heat mat and one 4 ft T5 light so I'm having to get creative... With that said, its in the 70's for the next 7 days and I'm thinking I should pot all these tomatoes up and start hardening them off outside? This is my first true round so I don't want to go for the gusto too quickly, as we can have another frost or two still (Phx). A lot of growers start their plants around the first of Feb so I want to be ready and also try to get another tray started if I can... Thoughts? Should I start potting them up? And I have a huge bag of worm castings that I think I will add to my potting soil mix...Thoughts? THANK YOU as always

jerryinfla · January 18, 2013

I'd pot them up if I were you because that's what I do with mine. We have very few really cold snaps around here and frosts/freezes occur during night time only. When temperatures are forecast below 40 I bring my plants inside then put them back out when it's 50 or above.

AZGardener · January 18, 2013

Thanks Jerry! That is what I'm thinking but I didn't want to pot them up too soon nor try to harden them off too soon... Trial and error I suppose

Tracydr · January 18, 2013

Right now, I put mine in 4-6" cups. I start exposing them to sun, wind and cold, very slowly. Around Feb 1 I plant most of them out, with light row cover. I save enough as replacements, in case we have a storm.

AZGardener · January 18, 2013

Thanks Tracy! I just noticed you were in Phx- yeah!!

I did about the same thing last year except I didn't start my own seed (rather bought some great transplants from a friend) so now I'm having to do lots of trial and error.... Fun but a tad stressful!

January 18, 2013	#1
AZGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Zone 9b Phoenix,AZ Posts: 390	When to transplant?! Hello gardeners! I have started two trays of 72 about a 10 days apart. The oldest tray is mostly tomatoes with about 10 peppers and 4 tomatillos. Except the peppers, the tomatoes all have about 4 leaves and are pushing 4 inches tall. I only have one heat mat and one 4 ft T5 light so I'm having to get creative... With that said, its in the 70's for the next 7 days and I'm thinking I should pot all these tomatoes up and start hardening them off outside? This is my first true round so I don't want to go for the gusto too quickly, as we can have another frost or two still (Phx). A lot of growers start their plants around the first of Feb so I want to be ready and also try to get another tray started if I can... Thoughts? Should I start potting them up? And I have a huge bag of worm castings that I think I will add to my potting soil mix...Thoughts? THANK YOU as always

January 18, 2013	#2
jerryinfla Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Central Florida Posts: 377	I'd pot them up if I were you because that's what I do with mine. We have very few really cold snaps around here and frosts/freezes occur during night time only. When temperatures are forecast below 40 I bring my plants inside then put them back out when it's 50 or above. __________________ Jerry - You only get old if you're lucky.

January 18, 2013	#4
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	Right now, I put mine in 4-6" cups. I start exposing them to sun, wind and cold, very slowly. Around Feb 1 I plant most of them out, with light row cover. I save enough as replacements, in case we have a storm.