Tomato Transplanting Question

[Hairy Moose Knuckles]

I started several different kinds of tomatoes in peat pellets. I had almost 100% germination on some of them. I planted 2 to 3 seeds in each pellet. If I take the pellets and crumble them gently can I save all my seedlings and replant in bigger cups? Or would it be better to thin them out and transplant. Thanks everyone. I am new at this.

[dcarch]

Welcome to TV.
I use a small clear plastic cup to put over them like a little green house, in a couple of days, I remove the cups.

dcarch

[johno]

I like peat pellets for starting tomatoes. They work so well, I usually just put one seed per pellet... Usually. Sometimes I get carried away.

I just pinch off the one or two weakest seedlings and pitch 'em. But, you might be able to cut them off and root them...

I've never tried crumbling the pellets to tease out individual seedlings, but I think it would work best if they were still very small.

[Adenn1]

Moose:

I used the pellets and went with two seeds each...so I had several pellets with two nice seedlings growing...I carefully peeled the casing off and then broke the pellet in half. I then transplanted the seedlings into 16 ounce cups. I did not have any die on me...out of say 40 plants.

[celticman]

I don't use peat pellets but generally start as many a dozen plants in a small cup. Tomato seeding are tough customers. I would get the pellet as wet as possible and then gently as possible break them apart and plant. Some will disagree but pinch off or kill any unhealthy small plants. The real question is how mant tomatoes do you have room to grow.

[Tomatovator]

I started 5 seeds in one peat pellet and seperated them all to transplant. They are all doing fine. Even if you damage or tear some of the roots when you seperate them, they will grow once transplanted.

[feldon30]

If you only need 1 of each plant, then now is the time to pinch them off, not later when you get emotionally attached to them. I have 2 trays full of tomato seedlings that I just couldn't part with. heh

Next year: grow fewer, take the rest to the farmer's markets

[MikeInCypress]

I use the peat pellets all the time. Usually I put 3 seeds per pellet and I almost always get at least 2 sprouts. When I pot up to 16 oz cups I gently pull the surplus sprout and transplant it into a cup as well. In a week you can't tell the difference. I lose maybe 1 out of 20 this way.

I start about 72 varieties but only one or two of each so the peat pellets are the way to go for me.

MikeInCypress

[Tomatovator]

I agree with Feldon here about not wanting to pinch off seedlings. I've got about 60 plants going here under the lights and only plan on growing 12 to 14. I just don't seem to be able to not pot up what sprouts.

[sirtanon]

I second that... In my backyard, I think I still have about 20 plants in small containers that I couldn't fit in the garden, but just couldn't bring myself to kill.

My wife keeps telling me to just get rid of them, kill them, etc.. but I won't do it. Some day soon, we're going to have a garage sale and I'm hoping I can sell them for 50 cents each or something like that.

I HAVE given a few away to neighbors, but suffice to say, one neighbor has killed each one I've given him.. so no more for him

[amideutch]

HMK, one of the advantages growing in peat pellets is when its transplant time you just put the whole thing in a bigger pot or directly into the garden without "Disturbing" the roots. Just snip off the weaker seedling with small scissors and be done with it. Ami

[Hairy Moose Knuckles]

Thank you everyone for all the great ideas and suggestions.

[remy]

Hi,
I always put extra seeds in my peat pellets too. When I get good germination, I don't like to kill my extra seedlings. I always have takers for them. To get the extra seedlings out, I use an old nut picker I have saved just for that job. I sound like a crazy person! Anyway, it is easiest for me to get them out that way for transplant.
Remy