transplant question

PaulF · March 8, 2007

I have a new to me question on transplanting seedlings to the larger pots once there are two (or more) true leaves.

When I started growing tomatoes from seed back in '96, I always used fresh, brand new seed from on line seed sellers. I always grew out all the seeds in the packet because I could give the extra plants away.

After a few years and encouraged by all the seed savers on GW, I began to save my own and replant them. As my inventory began to grow and my favorite varieties settled in, the age of some seeds became greater.

Now after all that my question to the Tville group.....with new seed, medium aged seed and some older seed the germination times are beginning to vary a lot more than ever before. I have a third of the seedlings with two sets of true leaves, a third with one set and a third in the cotyledon stage. Can I wait until all the plants have two trues or transplant each set at different times. Does it hurt to have 2, 3 or 4 sets of leaves at transplant time? I have the time and the space so that is not a problem and I grow under lights and can vary the height of the lights if needed. What do you think.

March 8, 2007	#1
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,296	transplant question I have a new to me question on transplanting seedlings to the larger pots once there are two (or more) true leaves. When I started growing tomatoes from seed back in '96, I always used fresh, brand new seed from on line seed sellers. I always grew out all the seeds in the packet because I could give the extra plants away. After a few years and encouraged by all the seed savers on GW, I began to save my own and replant them. As my inventory began to grow and my favorite varieties settled in, the age of some seeds became greater. Now after all that my question to the Tville group.....with new seed, medium aged seed and some older seed the germination times are beginning to vary a lot more than ever before. I have a third of the seedlings with two sets of true leaves, a third with one set and a third in the cotyledon stage. Can I wait until all the plants have two trues or transplant each set at different times. Does it hurt to have 2, 3 or 4 sets of leaves at transplant time? I have the time and the space so that is not a problem and I grow under lights and can vary the height of the lights if needed. What do you think. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.