Potting Up

schill93 · November 19, 2016

What are your potting-up size practices. Do you start with seed trays and then pot up to a larger container. What size do you generally pot up to? I know a lot of you are using those large red cups that I think are 16 oz. I know some are potting up to 4" pots, and some to 5 or 6" pots.

I am torn which way to go. On one hand I would like to give plants maximum room to grow their roots. On the other hand, doing so will severely restrict the number of plants I can grow under my lights.

Just curious what your experience is. I am speaking of mostly tomatoes, but also peppers, zukes and eggplants.

Cole_Robbie · November 19, 2016

I go from seed-starting tray, to six pack, to 4" pots, and then later to gallon pots, but most of my plants get sold in 4" pots. They are often a foot tall in a 4" pot when I sell them.

I think the plastic cups are usually 10-12 oz, depending on brand. You can fit more media in a small space with square pots than with round. I use a "sheet-o-pots" product that holds 18 four inch pots in a 1'x2' 1020 web flat.

Eggplant and peppers I do the same. I usually direct-seed zucchini. I would think it would grow a little too fast to transplant very much.

greenthumbomaha · November 19, 2016

There's no right way. Each one of us is different and we change things up often. One consideration is the size you want you transplants to be. I prefer a larger transplant to withstand a fierce wind here. If your climate is mild, you an send your babies out in a smaller pot at 4-6 weeks.

Since your space is limited, you can look for some 12 oz styro cups and put fork holes on the bottom. I used them when my pots aren't clean and I am lazy. They can be reused too.

I start squash and cucumbers in 6 inch peat pots so they can start growing while the soil warms up. Perhaps this isn't a concern for you. They grow so quickly I wouldn't bother with lights. Within a week they are ready for the sun.

- Lisa

Gardeneer · November 19, 2016

Yeah, for me also the space utilization under light is deciding factor. A quick math.
I use 3 units of 2by 48" (T8) fluorescent . Roughly that gives me a floor space of 20" wide, 48" long.
If I use 4" square type pots.then I can fit 60 of them under lights. That is roughly how many tomato and peppers I usually have , give or take 10%. Sometime I grow 2 seedlings (twins) per pot.
I don't personally like round drink cups ( red, clear, cellofoam ), for the reason Cole mentioned. Also because they are not quite stable (small bottom, heavy top ) and wont fit in the tray right.

AlittleSalt · November 19, 2016

I start with the seed trays with cells. Then pot up to 16 oz. plastic drink cups. I use four older T12 fixtures.

imp · November 19, 2016

Last year, used Craig's video as a guide and did the dense planting thing, which worked well for me. Potted up from that to the red solo cups, which fit 20 to a laundry basket snugly but not too tight ( rectangular cheap ones at Wal-Mart @ $2.67 each, times 22). This gave me enough lip at the bottom to bottom water and enough headroom to be able to stack and cover with plastic for a cold snap while they were all on the front.

Will probably use the same method again, worked well for me. YMMV.

Oh, forgot, didn't use lights, used my van for the small trays, then on the porch then to the yard in the baskets- all normal daylight start to finish. Started in February I think; will start earlier this year to beat our seasonal split time with the high heat in summer time.

Worth1 · November 19, 2016

The title of the thread sounds like what some folks would do in the ((legal)) states.

Worth

schill93 · November 20, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

The title of the thread sounds like what some folks would do in the ((legal)) states.

Worth

Well, Nevada just became one of them eleven days ago.

To bad I'm into tomatoes instead of marijuana. Just a decrepit old lady I guess.

Cose_Robbie. I would prefer doing that at well. If I can just figure out how to do it. I know I could get a cold frame, but I have a couple of other ideas.

ALittleSalt: Your weather is pretty mild there in the winter. How old are your seedlings usually when you put them out?

Worth1 · November 20, 2016

Trust me your not missing anything.

Carry on.

Worth

ScottinAtlanta · November 20, 2016

I pot up to 9 ounce clear plastic cups. The clear plastic lets me see water content and root development. 9 ounces saves on potting soil and is more than adequate for a sizeable plant.

I use a hot screwdriver to put four holes on the bottom side of the cup. You don't want to put holes in the bottom, because it won't drain if it sits flat. Put your holes on the side at the very bottom.

ginger2778 · November 20, 2016

We have a plant sale fundraiser for the community garden that I volunteer at every year, using varieties from my saved seeds of what did well the season before. Our team starts 10 seeds per cell of a 72 cell tray, labeled as to variety. Then under the lights at 2 inches away for 2 weeks until they get a well established set of true leaves. Then we have a 5 hour team transplant party, where the little seedlings get put into the pots linked below, along with a tiny pinch of gnatrol granules and a pinch of Tomato Maker fertilizer which I love for the seedlings phase.

https://www.mcconkeyco.com/35-square...ct/759/jmcts35 These pots are about 6 cents a piece with the shipping and our garden only needs to buy them every 2-3 years, since we sell about 500 seedlings per year. This year we made about $1700 in one weekend, with costs at $225.

November 19, 2016	#1
schill93 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: Nevada Posts: 275	Potting Up What are your potting-up size practices. Do you start with seed trays and then pot up to a larger container. What size do you generally pot up to? I know a lot of you are using those large red cups that I think are 16 oz. I know some are potting up to 4" pots, and some to 5 or 6" pots. I am torn which way to go. On one hand I would like to give plants maximum room to grow their roots. On the other hand, doing so will severely restrict the number of plants I can grow under my lights. Just curious what your experience is. I am speaking of mostly tomatoes, but also peppers, zukes and eggplants.

November 19, 2016	#4
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,916	Yeah, for me also the space utilization under light is deciding factor. A quick math. I use 3 units of 2by 48" (T8) fluorescent . Roughly that gives me a floor space of 20" wide, 48" long. If I use 4" square type pots.then I can fit 60 of them under lights. That is roughly how many tomato and peppers I usually have , give or take 10%. Sometime I grow 2 seedlings (twins) per pot. I don't personally like round drink cups ( red, clear, cellofoam ), for the reason Cole mentioned. Also because they are not quite stable (small bottom, heavy top ) and wont fit in the tray right. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

November 19, 2016	#6
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	Last year, used Craig's video as a guide and did the dense planting thing, which worked well for me. Potted up from that to the red solo cups, which fit 20 to a laundry basket snugly but not too tight ( rectangular cheap ones at Wal-Mart @ $2.67 each, times 22). This gave me enough lip at the bottom to bottom water and enough headroom to be able to stack and cover with plastic for a cold snap while they were all on the front. Will probably use the same method again, worked well for me. YMMV. Oh, forgot, didn't use lights, used my van for the small trays, then on the porch then to the yard in the baskets- all normal daylight start to finish. Started in February I think; will start earlier this year to beat our seasonal split time with the high heat in summer time. Last edited by imp; November 19, 2016 at 11:18 PM.

November 19, 2016	#2
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I go from seed-starting tray, to six pack, to 4" pots, and then later to gallon pots, but most of my plants get sold in 4" pots. They are often a foot tall in a 4" pot when I sell them. I think the plastic cups are usually 10-12 oz, depending on brand. You can fit more media in a small space with square pots than with round. I use a "sheet-o-pots" product that holds 18 four inch pots in a 1'x2' 1020 web flat. Eggplant and peppers I do the same. I usually direct-seed zucchini. I would think it would grow a little too fast to transplant very much.

November 19, 2016	#3
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	There's no right way. Each one of us is different and we change things up often. One consideration is the size you want you transplants to be. I prefer a larger transplant to withstand a fierce wind here. If your climate is mild, you an send your babies out in a smaller pot at 4-6 weeks. Since your space is limited, you can look for some 12 oz styro cups and put fork holes on the bottom. I used them when my pots aren't clean and I am lazy. They can be reused too. I start squash and cucumbers in 6 inch peat pots so they can start growing while the soil warms up. Perhaps this isn't a concern for you. They grow so quickly I wouldn't bother with lights. Within a week they are ready for the sun. - Lisa

November 19, 2016	#5
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I start with the seed trays with cells. Then pot up to 16 oz. plastic drink cups. I use four older T12 fixtures.

November 19, 2016	#7
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	The title of the thread sounds like what some folks would do in the ((legal)) states. Worth

November 20, 2016	#9
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Trust me your not missing anything. Carry on. Worth

November 20, 2016	#10
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	I pot up to 9 ounce clear plastic cups. The clear plastic lets me see water content and root development. 9 ounces saves on potting soil and is more than adequate for a sizeable plant. I use a hot screwdriver to put four holes on the bottom side of the cup. You don't want to put holes in the bottom, because it won't drain if it sits flat. Put your holes on the side at the very bottom.

November 20, 2016	#11
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	We have a plant sale fundraiser for the community garden that I volunteer at every year, using varieties from my saved seeds of what did well the season before. Our team starts 10 seeds per cell of a 72 cell tray, labeled as to variety. Then under the lights at 2 inches away for 2 weeks until they get a well established set of true leaves. Then we have a 5 hour team transplant party, where the little seedlings get put into the pots linked below, along with a tiny pinch of gnatrol granules and a pinch of Tomato Maker fertilizer which I love for the seedlings phase. https://www.mcconkeyco.com/35-square...ct/759/jmcts35 These pots are about 6 cents a piece with the shipping and our garden only needs to buy them every 2-3 years, since we sell about 500 seedlings per year. This year we made about $1700 in one weekend, with costs at $225.