How long in six packs?

[erlyberd]

How long do you grow your tomatoes in a six pack for? I normally do for about two weeks and pot up to four inch pots. Do you think I'm rushing it?

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by erlyberd

How long do you grow your tomatoes in a six pack for? I normally do for about two weeks and pot up to four inch pots. Do you think I'm rushing it?

I transplant the 1-2 inch seedlings from the seed starting 20 row insert flats to a tray insert that has 4 packs, 8 of those fit into one tray, cells are about 2 inches x 2 inches and grow them in those cells to transplant size of 6-9 inches.

I never pot up to a larger size container b'c I want the roots to be somewhat rootbound when set out. That's the way all my commercial friends do it and I did it that way for many years.

When you pot up the fibrous root structure does become much larger but those fine narrow roots are also more fragile and break easier when you go from a larger pot to outside planting. With the plants grown in 2 inch cells less root damage occurs when setting out and the plants ASAP put out new roots.

That's the way I do it.

[Hilde]

When do you usually start your seeds, Carolyn?

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Hilde

When do you usually start your seeds, Carolyn?

When I was starting all my tomatoes from seed I'd sow them around April 1st or so looking to transplant out the beginning of June,after hardening off, if the weather was OK to do so.

I used to grow 5-700 plants and there was no way I could protect them from late frosts if set out much earlier than that.

I fell and severed all four quads in my right leg and have had to use a walker since then, so no longer grow more than about 30 plants in the backyard now, and someone does all my gardening for me and I send tomato seeds to a friend and get back plants shipped to me and then a few folks also do most of the seed production although I do some at home here if I have help/

I didn't know what your zone is so had to Google it and find you're in Niagara County in WNYS. Your zone there should be about the same as mine here, but since I don't know your seed set up I don't know how long it takes you to get to outside transplant size.

Hope that helps.

[Hilde]

Thanks, Carolyn! I am sorry about your health! It is good that you have people who can help!

I have had a tendency to start the seeds too early, like March 20th or so, so I thought I should ask when you started yours!

I start my seeds in the basement, over warming mats, in the darkness, then put them under grow lights, still in the basement, under a plastic dome. The basement have temperatures in the mid 60's. I have a small green house, where I put the seedlings once I have repotted them. It is unheated, but I have a heater which will prevent the temperatures from going lower than the low 40's.

I always assume that I am in zone 5B. We are between zones 5 and 6 here. Remy is closer to the water, so she is in zone 6. It only takes 15 - 20 minutes or so to drive to Remy, but it is significantly colder here. It is also significantly colder than in the zone 6 fruit growing district along Lake Ontario, which is also close.

In 2008 I started the seeds around March 20th and by the end of May they were really too big, so I planted them deeper or on the side and removed many of the leaves. In the end they didn't look so big when planted out like that. Then I got a much smaller (and hardened off) Carbon from Remy, and that did great. Within very short time it was as big as my plants, and did really well. Set fruit just as early as the bigger plants as well.

[erlyberd]

Thanks for the info Carolyn. Also sorry to hear of your fall and know exactly how limited mobility feels. I've been battling against the mother of all evils since Nov, the two c's as I call them, chemo and cancer. Never, ever give in. I hope you have a quick recovery. So your growing these plants in 2" x 2" cells for just under two months? That sounds promising because I'm already lacking indoor realestate and its early yet. But then again I'm the erlyberd! I'll have to try this with my main croppers when the extra, earlys are ready to spend some time in the cold frame. Somehow, I think I'll be adding more lights.

[Hilde]

Sorry to hear about your cancer, Erlyberd! Never giving up is the right attitude! I'm rooting for you!

[casino]

Fighting cancer, thats a tough battle. Take a look at this info. Do a google search on Lemon Grass Kills Cancer. Israel becomes mecca for cancer patients. Not a cure but very interresting reading.

[FILMNET]

Then we should all be eating Thai food more, i lived there as a kid. Great food, most lemon grass is used in soup.

[erlyberd]

Thanks for the kind thoughts.

[Goldie]

erlyberd, check out this link.
http://www.cleaningforareason.org
I am not personally familiar with it, but it sounds like it would be helpful to those enduring chemo. Free house-cleaning.

[erlyberd]

Thanks for all the wonderful info and thoughts, but this is a tomato forum so lets keep it on track! LOL............................................... .................................................. All that I know is the Doc says the treatment is working so their is hope and I'm a fighter, with a head of stone, gee, would soil with rocks sound better keeping with the gardening theme! It's a mental game, mind over matter and I've got that strong mind to pull it off. Physical toughness counts to.............................................On a gardening note my larger early babies are reaching 3" tall and spreading to 5" at three weeks! Getting amped up to start the rest of this years maters on the 20th.............................................. .................................................. .......................... Rick

[erlyberd]

Sometimes you can't help yourself. I transplanted all of the Tiny Tim and Extreme Bush seedlings today! I just could'nt resist the temptation.At 25 days old they still had plenty of room to grow but they were smaller than the previously transplanted ones. Sometimes its hard to leave well enough alone. Now I need to make room for the mid and late season stuff and the sales plants after that. What am I supposed to do with 42 early season plants!