Seedling (four leaf) question

[Francis Barnswallow]

I've got seedling (tomatoes) growing nicely. I've read that when they grow four leaves it's time to move them to a bigger pot (5 in).

Here's my question. The seedlings have 2 newer leaves and the original 2 leaves it started out with. Is it time to move them to bigger pots? The seedlings themselves are around two inches tall.

[DoubleDogFarm]

Here's my question. The seedlings have 2 newer leaves and the original 2 leaves it started out with. Is it time to move them to bigger pots? The seedlings themselves are around two inches tall.

The cotyledon are not counted, only the "true" leaves. So it sounds like they have two leaves.

What are they growing in now? Are they becoming root bound?


Eric

[Francis Barnswallow]

They're growing in trays I got for my birthday. It's basically a seedling start up kit. I'll have to check if they're root bound. And thanks for clearing up the "four-leaf" theory. I was confused.

[TZ -OH6]

True leaves is a minimum size. To conserve space under lights I would wait until the plants look like the top is oversized for the bottom/pot, or the leaves start to crowd those of the other plants.

[gixxerific]

All good advice here.

Don't forget they seem to go into overdrive when up-potted especially if good soil is used. So make room it will be a jungle soon.

[wordwiz]

What they all said! And if/when you repot, anything over 3" is overkill. I have grown thousands of seedlings - mostly tomatoes and peppers, but also broccoli, peanuts, cotton, basil, strawberries and who knows what else and have not run across a root bound plant in a 3" nursery cell. That includes years when I couldn't plant for two weeks past what I had planned because of the weather.

The larger the pot, the more potting mix you will need and the fewer plants you will be able to fit under your lights.

Mike