Tomato question...

shocks20 5/25/2010, 8:58 pm

I started a whole bunch of tomatoes from seeds. They've all moved to three inch peat pots, but are still fairly small. The biggest is probably 4-5 inches tall, but still fairly skinny. How big should they be before they are transferred to their permanent home (either a 1x1 box, a planter, or one of my 4x4 raised beds)?? They seem so fragile still!
I think I learned that I need to start them much earlier than what I did!!
Thanks!

Jenny

martha 5/25/2010, 9:08 pm

I *think* they will grow faster once outside, as long as it is warm enough. I have 3 sizes of tomatoes that I started from seed - "ooh la la!" "Hmmm, maybe", and "not a chance."

Sounds like yours are in the hmmm, maybe stage. By the way, all of mine have been living outside for serveral days now. Some of them are still in their peat pots - I need to get more boxes built!!!!

Good luck and keep us posted.

PS - I do think one needs to start them earlier than that 6-8 week thing we are told. As mine got bigger, the taking them inside at night and back out during the day got a little old, but I can't complain, since the large plants are the reason I had to make so many trips every day!

shocks20 5/25/2010, 9:12 pm

Thanks for the response Martha. These tomatoes have been living outside probably two weeks already. They are definitely getting bigger, but it seems like it is taking forever!

sceleste54 5/25/2010, 10:35 pm

I got off to a really late start, but I tried growing under lights this year..I put mine outside when they were @ 3 inches tall.. they have done great !

shocks20 5/26/2010, 11:13 pm

Here's a pic of what my tomato starts look like right now...almost half are probably ready to go in the garden...what do you think? (those are marigolds in the back on the left!)

Megan 5/26/2010, 11:20 pm

My tomatoes are smaller than yours and are already in my garden... but I am in a warmer zone and I was desperate. My direct-seed tomatoes are actually better off than the indoor starts! The direct-seeds have really tough-looking stems and are starting to get a bunch of leaves, even if they are tiny, while the transplants are... well, even more pathetic.

quiltbea 5/27/2010, 3:07 pm

I think the important thing about transplanting tom seedlings is the warmth of the soil and that its past the frost date. They will 'catch up' with their bretheren once they are settled in their new outdoor home.
Plant them deeper than they were in the pots to be sure to get lots of roots starting. I always remove all the leaves below the top bunch. They will bounce back after they have got over the transplant shock.

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