Dense Planting Illustrated - WARNING - Pic Heavy! Latest video 3/17 - transplanting - Page 9

**nctomatoman** · February 1, 2009

Nope! And that is the risk not having a greenhouse. I don't start transplanting until there is a very low risk of frost - they are into the driveway once they go into the 4 inchers. The last two years I've done the Reemay dance several times...but haven't lost any, fortunately (moving a few thousand 4 inch pots into the garage is no fun...but I have had to do it when things get a bit too dicey with the low temps!)

recruiterg · February 20, 2009

Do you transplant once or twice prior to planting? Just wondering if the 4 inch pot is large enough or would hinder root growth.

A) Do you go from the seedling to 4 inch pot to planting in the ground?

Or

B) Do you go from seedling to 4 inch pot to larger pot to planting in the ground?

Woodchuck · February 22, 2009

I've started onions this way for what seems like eons.
I plan to try my hand at it with tomatoes, peppers and eggplant this year.

Does anyone know of other plants that don't object to dense planting and being pulled apart?

Thanks!

<Woodchuck>

wendilou35 · February 23, 2009

nctomatoman - thanks for the info. I'm planning on using this method for my seeds. I'm a little late, but still crossing my finger, have a new baby, so the garden got put on the back burner. What type of grow light would you suggest? Also, I was looking for a recommendation for mulching around my tomato plants, if so and what kind??

arwmommy · February 24, 2009

nc- where do you find your MetroMix 360?? I am having a very hard time tracking it down. Also, do you have any thoughts on using the 4" peat pots from the start for a home grower who is only growing like 20 plants??? Thanks for this fabulous post!

**nctomatoman** · February 24, 2009

Wendi, I just use inexpensive shop lights with 48 inch fluorescent tubes. I try to minimize the time they are under light and move them into the sun as soon as the weather allows, a little at a time of course. For mulch, I use grass clippings -we don't treat our lawn.

arwmommy, I get it from a local farm supply - the company that makes it is Sungrow - you can Google to find out if they sell it near you. I've never used peat pots, so others can probably chime in on pros and cons of them from their experience.

arwmommy · February 24, 2009

OK NC-

I just got off the phone with Sun Gro, and there is no one within 200 miles who sells it, and no one online. It is a "professional mix" so it is not carried anywhere near me.

Boo hoo!

Do you have another medium that you would strongly recommend????

**nctomatoman** · February 24, 2009

I've heard that Jiffy Mix works - or you can make your own - there are lots of threads here and there at Tville about people making their own mix, or play around with Google and Seed Starting Mix and see what you come up with!

neoguy · February 24, 2009

Look for a seed starter mix from Premier, Pro-Mix, or Pro-Mix BX.

http://www.premierhort.com/eProMix/index.htm

Quote:

Originally Posted by arwmommy

OK NC-

I just got off the phone with Sun Gro, and there is no one within 200 miles who sells it, and no one online. It is a "professional mix" so it is not carried anywhere near me.

Boo hoo!

Do you have another medium that you would strongly recommend????

**Mischka** · February 25, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by arwmommy

Also, do you have any thoughts on using the 4" peat pots from the start for a home grower who is only growing like 20 plants???

Just say no to peat pots for starting tomato seedlings.

To me they are more trouble than they are worth. Ditto for those expand-in-water Jiffy Peat Pellets.

arwmommy · February 25, 2009

Thanks! I was actually going to probably use CowPots, but didn't realize they were about a dollar a piece + shipping. Yikes. I will probably try to pawn some 4" pots off my local nursery.... maybe they will sell some to me.

Sorry to hijack!

habitat_gardener · March 9, 2009

What a terrific thread!

Craig, how important is the very warm water at the beginning? Did you start out using cold water and found the seeds germinated sooner or better with warm water? Or is the warm water in lieu of a heating mat? Or is it just more pleasant to work with?

This method makes so much sense. I got one-inch plugs of a couple native plants at a garden tour a few years ago, and eventually ended up with 50 plants of one variety and 20 of the other, so I know it's easier than it seems to transplant tiny seedlings from a dense clump. I've also done this with onions, but instead of pulling them apart, I swish the clump in water, which makes them a lot easier to separate.

**nctomatoman** · March 9, 2009

No, warm water at the beginning is to allow it to seep into the Metro Mix more quickly. The temp isn't important aside from that.

huntoften · March 18, 2009

nctomatoman...I can't thank you enough for this thread! I used it mid-way through my planting last year. This year I used this method almost exclusiely. I was AMAZED at how much room I saved, the high germination and success rate, and the ease of separating and re-potting. This has saved me a ton of time and a lot of work!

**nctomatoman** · March 18, 2009

Great - love to hear people succeeding with this method!

February 1, 2009	#121
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Nope! And that is the risk not having a greenhouse. I don't start transplanting until there is a very low risk of frost - they are into the driveway once they go into the 4 inchers. The last two years I've done the Reemay dance several times...but haven't lost any, fortunately (moving a few thousand 4 inch pots into the garage is no fun...but I have had to do it when things get a bit too dicey with the low temps!) __________________ Craig

February 20, 2009	#122
recruiterg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4) Posts: 945	Transplantation Do you transplant once or twice prior to planting? Just wondering if the 4 inch pot is large enough or would hinder root growth. A) Do you go from the seedling to 4 inch pot to planting in the ground? Or B) Do you go from seedling to 4 inch pot to larger pot to planting in the ground?

February 23, 2009	#124
wendilou35 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alexandria, LA Posts: 1	nctomatoman - thanks for the info. I'm planning on using this method for my seeds. I'm a little late, but still crossing my finger, have a new baby, so the garden got put on the back burner. What type of grow light would you suggest? Also, I was looking for a recommendation for mulching around my tomato plants, if so and what kind?? __________________ Wendi Alexandria, LA

February 24, 2009	#126
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Wendi, I just use inexpensive shop lights with 48 inch fluorescent tubes. I try to minimize the time they are under light and move them into the sun as soon as the weather allows, a little at a time of course. For mulch, I use grass clippings -we don't treat our lawn. arwmommy, I get it from a local farm supply - the company that makes it is Sungrow - you can Google to find out if they sell it near you. I've never used peat pots, so others can probably chime in on pros and cons of them from their experience. __________________ Craig

February 24, 2009	#128
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	I've heard that Jiffy Mix works - or you can make your own - there are lots of threads here and there at Tville about people making their own mix, or play around with Google and Seed Starting Mix and see what you come up with! __________________ Craig

February 22, 2009	#123
Woodchuck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 64	I've started onions this way for what seems like eons. I plan to try my hand at it with tomatoes, peppers and eggplant this year. Does anyone know of other plants that don't object to dense planting and being pulled apart? Thanks! <Woodchuck>

February 24, 2009	#125
arwmommy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: So. California Posts: 6	nc- where do you find your MetroMix 360?? I am having a very hard time tracking it down. Also, do you have any thoughts on using the 4" peat pots from the start for a home grower who is only growing like 20 plants??? Thanks for this fabulous post!

February 24, 2009	#127
arwmommy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: So. California Posts: 6	OK NC- I just got off the phone with Sun Gro, and there is no one within 200 miles who sells it, and no one online. It is a "professional mix" so it is not carried anywhere near me. Boo hoo! Do you have another medium that you would strongly recommend????

February 25, 2009	#131
arwmommy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: So. California Posts: 6	Thanks! I was actually going to probably use CowPots, but didn't realize they were about a dollar a piece + shipping. Yikes. I will probably try to pawn some 4" pots off my local nursery.... maybe they will sell some to me. Sorry to hijack!

March 9, 2009	#132
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	What a terrific thread! Craig, how important is the very warm water at the beginning? Did you start out using cold water and found the seeds germinated sooner or better with warm water? Or is the warm water in lieu of a heating mat? Or is it just more pleasant to work with? This method makes so much sense. I got one-inch plugs of a couple native plants at a garden tour a few years ago, and eventually ended up with 50 plants of one variety and 20 of the other, so I know it's easier than it seems to transplant tiny seedlings from a dense clump. I've also done this with onions, but instead of pulling them apart, I swish the clump in water, which makes them a lot easier to separate.

March 9, 2009	#133
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	No, warm water at the beginning is to allow it to seep into the Metro Mix more quickly. The temp isn't important aside from that. __________________ Craig

March 18, 2009	#134
huntoften Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas CIty Posts: 560	nctomatoman...I can't thank you enough for this thread! I used it mid-way through my planting last year. This year I used this method almost exclusiely. I was AMAZED at how much room I saved, the high germination and success rate, and the ease of separating and re-potting. This has saved me a ton of time and a lot of work! __________________ Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a

March 18, 2009	#135
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Great - love to hear people succeeding with this method! __________________ Craig