When to Transplant (and fertilize)

[tam91]

My little tomato seedlings seem happy and healthy. I planted them in row flats on 3/2, and most emerged by 3/7.

What I'm wondering is - when to transplant them to 4" pots?

On the dense planting thread, it says about a month. But mine have good-sized true leaves already.

Any suggestions on how to decide when it's time to transplant?

Also, I haven't fertilized them yet. I was thinking of using Miracle Grow diluted (1/2 or 1/4 strength?) - soon? After transplant? ....?

[rxkeith]

if they have good size first true leaves, then they are big enough to easily transplant.
as far as fertilizing goes, i rarely do it, unless it looks like they are really needing it, and then i will use 1/4 strength solution. you can over do it with fertilizing and end up with large gangly plants when starting them in doors especially when inside temps start climbing in the 70s. the best my plants have looked was when i had them growing in my cool calumet basement where the temp was usually in the low to mid 60s. slow steady growth is what you want.


keith

[cleo88]

I second everything Keith said.

Potting up when you have the first true set of leaves beyond the "cot" leaves always seems to energize my little guys. I use Miracle Grow Seed Starting mix for both the initial sowing and the first potting up, so I usually don't have to fertilize, although one year I did do the quarter strength at one point.

[bohica]

I start mine in 4 inch peat pots, in Premier Promix with a little extra mycorrhiza mixed in. So I don't transplant until I need to go up into the plastic greenhouse Pots.
I have always given my seedlings a very light dilution of Kelp/Seaweed by day 3 after emerging fromm the soil, and by day 5 I add a very diluted amount of Fish to that drench. I mist with that very same light Diluted Kelp/Seaweed. My seedlings are always very strong and healthy.

[robbyjoe01]

Wow!!! Ya all don't plant by the moon. Need to listen to Mother Nature

[Aphid]

I usually do it between 2-3 weeks , when the roots hit the bottom of the seedling cells, thats a good sign