How to Pot Up Tomato Seedlings
Tomatoes Grown From Seed Require a Larger Pot for Root Growth
One of the most enjoyable processes for vegetable gardeners is growing vegetables from seed. Proper maintenance of seedlings includes potting them up into larger pots.
Enthusiastic vegetable gardeners who grow tomatoes from seed often find it difficult to decide what types to grow. In many cases, gardeners simply decide to grow them all! Because tomato seedlings are so small and manageable in size in the beginning, this might seem like a good idea. Tomato seedlings grown in cell packs or peat pellets don’t take up very much space; however, when they are potted up into larger containers, they will need more space than some gardeners realize.
Growing tomatoes from seed is fairly easy, and the results are extremely rewarding, but it is not a maintenance-free process. Regardless of whether the tomato seeds are germinated in cell packs or peat pellets or another seed starting system, once the plants have two sets of true leaves, they need to be moved to a larger container where their roots will have room to grow.
The other benefit to moving tomato plants into larger containers is that they can be planted rather deep. Unlike other vegetable plants, tomatoes have the remarkable ability to grow roots along their stem. Planting the seedling deeply, with the majority of the stem beneath the level of the soil will result in a sturdier plant with a healthy root system.
Any plastic pot will make a fine home for a tomato plant provided it is big enough to house the plant from the time it is potted up until it is ready to be planted out in the garden. Reused pots left over from the previous year’s growing season work well if they are washed carefully. Plastic drinking cups make excellent pots if some drainage holes are punched into the bottom of them before potting. If transparent cups are used, the gardener has the advantage of being able to see how dry the soil is, as well as watching the growth of the tomato plant’s root system.
Step-by-Step Guide to Potting up Tomato Seedlings
- Count the tomato seedlings and prepare enough pots. Reused plastic pots will need to be washed first with a mild bleach solution. If using plastic cups, punch several drainage holes in the bottom of each cup.
- Prepare the growing medium, such as Pro-Mix, according to package directions.
- Carefully lift the tomato seedlings from their cell pack, pushing upward into the bottom of the pack, if necessary, to loosen the roots. Lift the small plant out by carefully pulling the leaves in an upward motion. If the plant doesn’t break out of the cell pack it may be necessary to break the side of the cell pack to free it. Place the seedling in the bottom of the new pot. If the tomato seedlings were grown in peat pellets, the entire pellet can be placed in the bottom of the new pot.
- Fill the pot with the potting mix, and remember to bury most of the tomato stem, leaving the leaves exposed at the top of the pot.
- Water the plants with a mild solution of water and organic fertilizer.
- Label each plant individually. The easiest method is to write with an indelible marker directly on the side of the pot or cup.
- Place the newly potted plants beneath a grow light, until all danger of frost has passed and they’ve had a chance to harden off. Remember to water when necessary.
Potting up tomato seedlings into larger containers will provide the plant with more space for growing a healthy root system, ensuring the crop of tomatoes is extremely successful. Don’t forget to research tomato recipes...they will be needed!
