Immediately after germination?

[windclimber]

Last year I potted up at the plumlar hook stage as they were pushing through the starting medium.
Results were fine, then potted up again at the true leaf stage, and again after cold hardening. Again good results with great root structure.

This year........three days after germination, they are about 1"---- 1 1/2" tall and have moved from atop the piano to south facing window, seed coats still clinging on and cotyldons still to unfold.

I wanted to wait until first leaves appeared to pot them to 6" pots ONCE to go under lights for cold treatment and later to harden off.

Is there a lot of stress on them at the stage they are at, and as they get taller and start sprawling around in the starting medium as I wait for the true leaves?

My research tells me the optimum course of action is to pot up once to 6" pots after true leaf emergence.
I realize I can pot them up to their little necks but am concerned about them getting overly leggy in the starting cells, and not achieving the best start possible.

Tom