How to Pot Up Tomato Seedlings

If you're an enthusiastic gardener who enjoys growing plants from tiny seeds to seedlings and then to bountiful vegetables and fruits, then you need to know how to transfer your seedlings. When you start growing tomatoes, the seedlings can be kept in smaller containers, but they soon need more space to grow and produce tomatoes. Anyone can learn how to pot up these delicious vegetables easily.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Examine your tomato seedlings to figure out when to pot up your plants. When two or three true leaves form on your seedlings, you can transplant them.

2. Determine how many pots you may need. Each tomato seedling requires its own pot, along with a supply of potting mix. If you're using plastic pots, make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom. If there aren't any holes, poke several holes in the bottom of the pot.

3. Remove the seedling from its current location. This can be a cell pack if you bought the plant from a store or it could be the seedling tray in which you originally planted the tomato seed. Carefully pull on the stem and wiggle the roots free from the container.

4. Place the seedling in the new pot after putting some soil in the bottom. Bury the stem down far enough so only the first layer of leaves is showing. Tomatoes are one of the only vegetables that can grow roots along their stem.

5. Water your newly-potted seedlings liberally. Place the pots beneath a light so they can continue to grow until you're ready to transition them to outside.

Tips & Warnings

• Any plastic pot can work well when you pot up your tomato seedling. You can use pots from previous years or even a plastic drinking cup. Just make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom.
• When you're almost ready to move your tomato seedlings to the garden, acclimate them to the outside air. Place the containers outside in a semi-shady location 10 days before you plan to plant them in the ground, bringing them inside at night.

Resources

• Visit this site to learn how to properly grow your tomatoes.