Why are my smaller pots growing better plants

ronbrew · March 8, 2008

I'm trying to figure this out. I label all my tomato seeds by the first one to come up, second, etc. I start with a flat of 3/4 inch cells and add all my seeds etc. So the first seed that comes up within each variety I figure is the strongest plant. So I take it out of my covered flat (so it doesn't get leggy) and transfer it into a 6X6 inch pot. I label it as the first to sprout. then I continue with the second one. Then the third and fourth ones I put them in these six pack containers that are only 2X2 cells. I look at them as my leftovers.

But now I'm now looking at everything and all the 2X2 inch potted plants that have the 3rd and 4th seeds to sprout are 3 times the size of the ones in the larger pots. They seem to be growing like leaps and bounds basking in my lights above. There is only a couple in the large pots that are close to the size of the ones in the smaller sized containers. Is there a reason for this or am I just having an odd year. all my first to sprout plants are kind of small. I thought the first to sprout in a larger pot would yield the best plants. Can anyone explain this?
Thanks,
Ron

March 8, 2008	#1
ronbrew Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bay Area California Posts: 23	Why are my smaller pots growing better plants I'm trying to figure this out. I label all my tomato seeds by the first one to come up, second, etc. I start with a flat of 3/4 inch cells and add all my seeds etc. So the first seed that comes up within each variety I figure is the strongest plant. So I take it out of my covered flat (so it doesn't get leggy) and transfer it into a 6X6 inch pot. I label it as the first to sprout. then I continue with the second one. Then the third and fourth ones I put them in these six pack containers that are only 2X2 cells. I look at them as my leftovers. But now I'm now looking at everything and all the 2X2 inch potted plants that have the 3rd and 4th seeds to sprout are 3 times the size of the ones in the larger pots. They seem to be growing like leaps and bounds basking in my lights above. There is only a couple in the large pots that are close to the size of the ones in the smaller sized containers. Is there a reason for this or am I just having an odd year. all my first to sprout plants are kind of small. I thought the first to sprout in a larger pot would yield the best plants. Can anyone explain this? Thanks, Ron