When do you like to transplant?

Edmick

Edmick

Staff Member
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So I'm curious. Personally I like to remove the plants from the cells and kinda judge it that way. I was repotting some plants today and it got me wondering what everyone else does.
To me, this plant can clearly stay in the cell a little longer.
But this is when I usually like to transplant.

What do you think?
 
I put into solo cups fast as to not disturb the roots as much. that's my logic at least- don't know if it's relevant. Once they're in cups, they stay there for a while. Usually until they're sucking up water fast enough that they need it twice a day. 5 gal pots or into the ground from there. cheers
 
tctenten said:
As soon as the weather permits. Early May for me and by that time, most of the plants will be close to being root bound.
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Do you start your plants in small 72 cell inserts or larger pots? I use to start all me seeds in 4 inch pots but since I'm growing on a large scale now and to save space, i keep them them in the small cells as long as possible before transplanting into a 4 inch pot.
 
I used to just start them in small pots or solo cups but now I try to wait until a good amount of seedlings of that specific variety are looking good and maybe on their way to their first set of true leaves. I don't worry too much about hurting the roots, as I've accidentally had small seedlings' taproots break off completely in the soil when I'm trying to rush or just not paying attention and they were never too far behind their intact brethren.
 
I prefer to transplant sooner than I am transplanting this year!  This is about 60 plants in a 1020 tray.  Planning to transplant them this coming Tuesday.  
 
NePmuge.jpg

 
 
 
As soon as they germinate to show the cotyledons (sometimes I remove the seed coat) in 2" soil blocks, they go in 4" pots until they go outside in May.
 
Edmick said:
Do you start your plants in small 72 cell inserts or larger pots? I use to start all me seeds in 4 inch pots but since I'm growing on a large scale now and to save space, i keep them them in the small cells as long as possible before transplanting into a 4 inch pot.
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Yes. I start them in small 72 cell inserts, then transfer to 4 inch square pots until plant out.
 
My methods go against everything you hear and read, but I see fantastic germination rates, and I feel strongly that I wont do it any other way!

I sew seeds 20-50 per 2inch cell. This means I have to transplant much sooner, but the seedlings seem much hardier and happier this way. They go from germination station to their own 4inch pot when I see 2 sets of TRUE leaves on each seedling.
 
Sooner the better is my theory. I start them in 72 cell trays and as soon as the 1st true leaves are about a half inch in length, I pot them up into #1 pots. I like to get them potted up before the roots start touching the sides or coming out the drainage holes. In my opinion, the less you disturb the roots the better. I also tested this theory last year with a few plants:

1) Potting them up early and into #1 pots

vs

2) Waiting til they had 3 or 4 sets of leaves, then into solo cups, then #1 pots

The plants from option #1 never stopped growing and took off like crazy, while the plants from number 2 stalled for 2 weeks or so with no growth at each time of transplant, so I lost about 4 weeks of growth with the second option.

This year, I did every plant straight from cells to #1 pots.
 
Oleic said:
I prefer to transplant sooner than I am transplanting this year!  This is about 60 plants in a 1020 tray.  Planning to transplant them this coming Tuesday.  
 
NePmuge.jpg

 
 
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LOL my tent looks just like this a freaking jungle and i have like a month and a half before they go outside think i started too early :mope:
 
 
I start with Aerogarden, then to double solo cup for 2-3 weeks, then 6in. Container 3 weeks, then 5 gallon grow bags. I notice explosive growth this way. Strong root development with little shock. My nutrients, soil, lighting and indoor\ outdoor migration helps too.
 
U)<now said:
Imagine how much bigger it would be if you potted up sooner instead of waiting that long.
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as for bigger container, i did experiment with Capsicum Chinense.  it will look like this.  
 
34689790716_6de0f7f73a_c.jpg
 
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