Transplanting seedlings reduces yields? - Page 2

ScottinAtlanta · November 8, 2011

transplant to inserts with about 2 inch plastic cells, 4 to one pack, 8 paks to the insert, so 32 plants and they're grown on from there to outside transplant size of about 6- 9 imches.

The more you pot up the larger the root system is and it's very fragile, so you get a lot of breakage.

Are my plants rootbound? Yes, and that's what I want them to be so that when planted they take off ASAP and have always grown well.

I adopted some of my methods from a close friend who is a commercial grower and I would sow seeds at home, drive the nursery trays to his place, put them in the seed house, and when 1-2 inches tall transplant them as I mentioned above.

This brief explanation is the clearest yet on this Forum - many many thanks, Carolyn.

November 8, 2011

I performed my experiment on the benefits of up potting in order to maximize the size and foliage cover of my seedlings prior to planting them in the garden. My experience by planting the largest plants possible as early as possible usually results in the earliest blooms and most blooms possible. For my purposes, the maximum number of blooms results in the highest production possible. In short, for me; up potting results in higher production. I only have about an eight week window between "weather too cold" and "weather too hot" to maximize blossom and fruit set. My tomatoes can and do continue to grow and ripen into the hot months, but the bloom set normally slows or stops in early to mid May.

It is possible, I can achieve the same results as up potting by planting my seed a couple of weeks earlier, but I haven't tried it. I will try it this year, by planting in mid December instead of early January.

Ted

erlyberd · November 11, 2011

From my experience on uppotting, giving my plants room to grow not only produces larger healthier plants but it also produces earlier fruit.

In my window sill currently sits the comparison. The plants that were repotted earlier not only dwarf the competition but they also have five bud clusters visable whereas their scrawny counterparts not only have thinner stalks, are shorter and are barely sporting two flower clusters. In other words they are already behind!

Repotting seedlings is a time consuming practice but for me (the home gardener) very much worth the effort.

Keiththibodeaux · November 11, 2011

There is a big difference between transplanting and potting up.

November 8, 2011	#16
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	transplant to inserts with about 2 inch plastic cells, 4 to one pack, 8 paks to the insert, so 32 plants and they're grown on from there to outside transplant size of about 6- 9 imches. The more you pot up the larger the root system is and it's very fragile, so you get a lot of breakage. Are my plants rootbound? Yes, and that's what I want them to be so that when planted they take off ASAP and have always grown well. I adopted some of my methods from a close friend who is a commercial grower and I would sow seeds at home, drive the nursery trays to his place, put them in the seed house, and when 1-2 inches tall transplant them as I mentioned above. This brief explanation is the clearest yet on this Forum - many many thanks, Carolyn.

November 8, 2011	#17
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	I performed my experiment on the benefits of up potting in order to maximize the size and foliage cover of my seedlings prior to planting them in the garden. My experience by planting the largest plants possible as early as possible usually results in the earliest blooms and most blooms possible. For my purposes, the maximum number of blooms results in the highest production possible. In short, for me; up potting results in higher production. I only have about an eight week window between "weather too cold" and "weather too hot" to maximize blossom and fruit set. My tomatoes can and do continue to grow and ripen into the hot months, but the bloom set normally slows or stops in early to mid May. It is possible, I can achieve the same results as up potting by planting my seed a couple of weeks earlier, but I haven't tried it. I will try it this year, by planting in mid December instead of early January. Ted

November 11, 2011	#18
erlyberd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CT Zone 5 Posts: 186	From my experience on uppotting, giving my plants room to grow not only produces larger healthier plants but it also produces earlier fruit. In my window sill currently sits the comparison. The plants that were repotted earlier not only dwarf the competition but they also have five bud clusters visable whereas their scrawny counterparts not only have thinner stalks, are shorter and are barely sporting two flower clusters. In other words they are already behind! Repotting seedlings is a time consuming practice but for me (the home gardener) very much worth the effort.

November 11, 2011	#19
Keiththibodeaux Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 587	There is a big difference between transplanting and potting up.