Questions starting from seed for first time - Page 2

elight · February 17, 2014

Time for an update on my first seed starting adventures! I planted four varieties in jiffy pellets, three pellets of each variety. Of the 12 pellets, 10 of them germinated.

Based on the weather currently and the long-term forecast for Orlando, I'm ready get these tomatoes outside. Given that they are about 2.5-3" tall, can I plant them straight into their final home (EarthTainers), or is potting up a necessary step?

I should mention that these are all dwarf varieties, in case the height of the seedlings makes a difference.

rnewste · February 17, 2014

I would recommend potting them up in Solo cups (using Pro-mix), as the next stage, then in a couple weeks after they grow a bit, moving them into their permanent EarthTainer homes.

Raybo

Doug9345 · February 18, 2014

You can plant them in their final place if you want to. I've done it with far smaller seedling and they caught up to others so I couldn't tell which one was which. I'd harden them off before dumping them straight outside.

Yes I believe dwarfs will be smaller as seedlings. Look at one of the Sticky Posts in the Dwarf project section. NCTomatoman has put up pictures there.

Doug9345 · February 18, 2014

I found the video. http://nctomatoman.weebly.com/1/post...seedlings.html

ScottinAtlanta · February 19, 2014

I don't find that dwarfs are smaller as seedlings or as small plants. They lose the competition for height after I put them in the ground. They do show rugose leaves early though, and tender to have stalkier stalks.

NarnianGarden · February 20, 2014

My two dwarf seedlings are very small, perhaps due to lack of sunshine. Almost a month old, a very tiny with the first true leaves (and those are clearly rugose)
They are under artificial light, but I would happily put them in direct sunlight for extra oomph.

February 17, 2014	#16
elight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 349	Time for an update on my first seed starting adventures! I planted four varieties in jiffy pellets, three pellets of each variety. Of the 12 pellets, 10 of them germinated. Based on the weather currently and the long-term forecast for Orlando, I'm ready get these tomatoes outside. Given that they are about 2.5-3" tall, can I plant them straight into their final home (EarthTainers), or is potting up a necessary step? I should mention that these are all dwarf varieties, in case the height of the seedlings makes a difference.

February 17, 2014	#17
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	I would recommend potting them up in Solo cups (using Pro-mix), as the next stage, then in a couple weeks after they grow a bit, moving them into their permanent EarthTainer homes. Raybo

February 18, 2014	#18
Doug9345 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Durhamville,NY Posts: 2,706	You can plant them in their final place if you want to. I've done it with far smaller seedling and they caught up to others so I couldn't tell which one was which. I'd harden them off before dumping them straight outside. Yes I believe dwarfs will be smaller as seedlings. Look at one of the Sticky Posts in the Dwarf project section. NCTomatoman has put up pictures there.

February 19, 2014	#20
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	I don't find that dwarfs are smaller as seedlings or as small plants. They lose the competition for height after I put them in the ground. They do show rugose leaves early though, and tender to have stalkier stalks.

February 20, 2014	#21
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	My two dwarf seedlings are very small, perhaps due to lack of sunshine. Almost a month old, a very tiny with the first true leaves (and those are clearly rugose) They are under artificial light, but I would happily put them in direct sunlight for extra oomph.