HelpfulGardener.com

First year gardening, soon to be starting tomato and peppers from seed (inside).

Question:

Option 1: start seeds in large tray and then transplant strong ones into my 3x3 plastic pots after germination to continue growth up to garden planting.

Option 2: start a few (how many?) seeds in 3x3 pots and cut off the weakest after a couple sets of real leaves develop, leaving one strong seedling in each pot all the way to garden planting.

I'm not sure if either method has any strong advantage, but curious what you experienced gardeners do.

My gratitude!

I do basically option one... start seeds crowded in cells, then transplant to pots (sometimes with an intermediate step of transplanting to one per cell).

I think the transplanting, if done gently, is actually helpful to them. Especially for the tomatoes -- every time you transplant them, bury them deeper than they were, up to the seed leaves while in pots and up to the true leaves when they go in the ground. They will root along the buried stem, so this gives them a more extensive root system.

And I hate killing perfectly good seedlings!

I'm with RBG, however you decide to do it, you should transplant at least once. Burying the plant deeper than it was originally. It'll make the plant that much more stout and strong when you move it outside. Take it from someone who used to not do it, it makes a big difference.

I agree with rainbow and Jeff.

I like option 2 only for seeds like lettuce. Maybe as many as ten in a 4" pot. You separate the pot into quarts when planting.


Eric

DoubleDogFarm wrote:I agree with rainbow and Jeff.

I like option 2 only for seeds like lettuce. Maybe as many as ten in a 4" pot. You separate the pot into quarts when planting.


Eric

Separate into quarts?

Did you mean quarters, or am I missing something?
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Yes, quarters

Separate into small bunches and plant out. Not single plants.

Eric