What do you pot into after solo cups?

JosephineRose · April 17, 2017

Seeds started 3/17. I'm potting up today. Suddenly the bulk of my seedlings have jumped up in size.

I just divided and potted to single cups about ten days ago, and over the weekend they just exploded in growth. They need more room, so I'm going to solo cups today. I'm thinking if they keep going at this rate, I'll be out of the solo cups before I'm ready to transplant. The cold rains haven't let up yet and it's just not quite warm enough, with outdoor temps in the 60s with only occasional 70s and overnight lows ranging from the mid 40s to mid 50s.

Have any of you that use them outgrown the 16oz red solo cups? Any suggestions on what to pot into next?

maxjohnson · April 17, 2017

I transplant them then, but otherwise I use 1 gallon plastic pots.

dmforcier · April 17, 2017

They can live in the solo cups for a long time. A couple weeks is nothing, and your weather is just about ready already. (Fill the cups so the roots can get as deep as possible.)

Next step up would be 6" pots which should be readily available on the recycling racks of Lowes or nurseries. You'd also need a good measure of potting mix. Those pots hold a surprising amount.

imp · April 17, 2017

Since I don't like to transplant that much, I go directly from multiple seeded starter trays to solo cups, then into the garden.

Gardeneer · April 17, 2017

A 16 oz solo cup should be enough to to a plant out at 6- 8 weeks from sowing. Then it will start getting root bound.

Father'sDaughter · April 18, 2017

I go from starter pots to larger pots that are just slightly bigger than solo cups. I keep them fed, under lights, and in a relatively cool environment, and they are usually pretty happy there until plant out.

gorbelly · April 18, 2017

I go from SOLO cups into the ground as well. But these days I'm experimenting with planting out later with younger plants.

AlittleSalt · April 18, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by JosephineRose

Seeds started 3/17. I'm potting up today. Suddenly the bulk of my seedlings have jumped up in size.

I just divided and potted to single cups about ten days ago, and over the weekend they just exploded in growth. They need more room, so I'm going to solo cups today. I'm thinking if they keep going at this rate, I'll be out of the solo cups before I'm ready to transplant. The cold rains haven't let up yet and it's just not quite warm enough, with outdoor temps in the 60s with only occasional 70s and overnight lows ranging from the mid 40s to mid 50s.

Have any of you that use them outgrown the 16oz red solo cups? Any suggestions on what to pot into next?

California is a big state with different growing zones, so if I felt I needed to pot up beyond the 16 oz. party cup stage - it would be the 1 gallon pots. I have never had to do that. I wish I could help more.

b54red · April 18, 2017

If you are going to be transplanting them into the garden it would be a real waste of potting soil to pot them up again. I don't even go as large as solo cups but rather 10 oz coffee cups and from there straight into the garden no matter how tall they get. If they get root bound just pull some of the roots loose. Tomato roots can take a good bit of rough handling unlike some plants. If they do get root bound don't plant them like that because they will be very slow to form new roots and expand outward. It is better to remove some of the roots and open the root ball open.

Bill

HudsonValley · April 19, 2017

Hefty makes a 24 oz. plastic cup (part of their "Deluxe" line) that's bigger than Solo-type cups (usually 16 oz.). It's made of clear plastic, so I cover the sides when hardening off to shield the roots from sunlight.

imp · April 19, 2017

I usually harden my plants off still in the seed starting trays. The solo cups are also always outside.

tarpalsfan · April 19, 2017

Last season I started bitter gourd, luffa, and Tambuli gourd. I cut several wide slits in the bottom of the cups for drainage. I also set the cups in shallow waterproof containers to bottom water. I also put that in a little walk in hot --- green house-perfect germination.
.
This season I have Burmese, Jing Orange, and Louisiana 16" long pod okra in the cups-the cups were really soaked before I added the seed-and again the seeds are germinating quick!
.
It is hard to get okra to germinate in my garden. So for us, the cups are the way to go.

My husband and daughter love okra

April 17, 2017	#1
JosephineRose Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: California Posts: 383	What do you pot into after solo cups? Seeds started 3/17. I'm potting up today. Suddenly the bulk of my seedlings have jumped up in size. I just divided and potted to single cups about ten days ago, and over the weekend they just exploded in growth. They need more room, so I'm going to solo cups today. I'm thinking if they keep going at this rate, I'll be out of the solo cups before I'm ready to transplant. The cold rains haven't let up yet and it's just not quite warm enough, with outdoor temps in the 60s with only occasional 70s and overnight lows ranging from the mid 40s to mid 50s. Have any of you that use them outgrown the 16oz red solo cups? Any suggestions on what to pot into next?

April 17, 2017	#3
dmforcier Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,825	They can live in the solo cups for a long time. A couple weeks is nothing, and your weather is just about ready already. (Fill the cups so the roots can get as deep as possible.) Next step up would be 6" pots which should be readily available on the recycling racks of Lowes or nurseries. You'd also need a good measure of potting mix. Those pots hold a surprising amount. __________________ Stupidity got us into this mess. Why can't it get us out? - Will Rogers

April 17, 2017	#5
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	A 16 oz solo cup should be enough to to a plant out at 6- 8 weeks from sowing. Then it will start getting root bound. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

April 18, 2017	#6
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	What do you pot into after solo cups? I go from starter pots to larger pots that are just slightly bigger than solo cups. I keep them fed, under lights, and in a relatively cool environment, and they are usually pretty happy there until plant out.

April 17, 2017	#2
maxjohnson Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: OH 6a Posts: 592	I transplant them then, but otherwise I use 1 gallon plastic pots.

April 17, 2017	#4
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	Since I don't like to transplant that much, I go directly from multiple seeded starter trays to solo cups, then into the garden.

April 18, 2017	#7
gorbelly Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 1,069	I go from SOLO cups into the ground as well. But these days I'm experimenting with planting out later with younger plants.

April 18, 2017	#9
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	If you are going to be transplanting them into the garden it would be a real waste of potting soil to pot them up again. I don't even go as large as solo cups but rather 10 oz coffee cups and from there straight into the garden no matter how tall they get. If they get root bound just pull some of the roots loose. Tomato roots can take a good bit of rough handling unlike some plants. If they do get root bound don't plant them like that because they will be very slow to form new roots and expand outward. It is better to remove some of the roots and open the root ball open. Bill

April 19, 2017	#10
HudsonValley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Hudson Valley, NY, Zone 6a Posts: 626	Hefty makes a 24 oz. plastic cup (part of their "Deluxe" line) that's bigger than Solo-type cups (usually 16 oz.). It's made of clear plastic, so I cover the sides when hardening off to shield the roots from sunlight.

April 19, 2017	#12
tarpalsfan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Arkansas Posts: 206	Last season I started bitter gourd, luffa, and Tambuli gourd. I cut several wide slits in the bottom of the cups for drainage. I also set the cups in shallow waterproof containers to bottom water. I also put that in a little walk in hot --- green house-perfect germination. . This season I have Burmese, Jing Orange, and Louisiana 16" long pod okra in the cups-the cups were really soaked before I added the seed-and again the seeds are germinating quick! . It is hard to get okra to germinate in my garden. So for us, the cups are the way to go. My husband and daughter love okra