Which is better - small or large transplant?

JoeP · April 7, 2011

My first time starting from seed so a little worried that my seedlings are not progressing very fast. I am attempting to follow the suggestions by NCtomatoman in the top sticky for dense planting method.

I started most of my seed on 3/19/2011 and that should give me 7 weeks before last frost/plantout.

I have them under a 4-tube shop light, of T8, 32w, 2800 lumen, 3000k color temp, about 2-3 inches from the tops of plants. Everything seems to be progressing OK. Almost all have a set of true leaves and some of the cotyledons have started to yellow.

The tallest ones are only about 1.5 inches tall. I plan to transplant to 4" pots this weekend and put in mini-greenhouse for the next 4 weeks.

Yesterday, however, I found myself in a local nursery that already has tomato transplants that are 18" tall in gallon pots (a month before last frost!). I couldn't stop myself from thinking that I've come to this seed starting party a few weeks too late. But then I remembered reading on Darrel Jones' site that small, healthy plants are preferable to larger plants.....about phase of growth, etc. and I calmed down.

I am not going to tear up or anything but could someone confirm that I am on track for successful tomato plants if they are only 1.5" high at 2.5 weeks from sowing and 4.5 weeks til plant out?

April 7, 2011	#1
JoeP Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Posts: 97	Which is better - small or large transplant? My first time starting from seed so a little worried that my seedlings are not progressing very fast. I am attempting to follow the suggestions by NCtomatoman in the top sticky for dense planting method. I started most of my seed on 3/19/2011 and that should give me 7 weeks before last frost/plantout. I have them under a 4-tube shop light, of T8, 32w, 2800 lumen, 3000k color temp, about 2-3 inches from the tops of plants. Everything seems to be progressing OK. Almost all have a set of true leaves and some of the cotyledons have started to yellow. The tallest ones are only about 1.5 inches tall. I plan to transplant to 4" pots this weekend and put in mini-greenhouse for the next 4 weeks. Yesterday, however, I found myself in a local nursery that already has tomato transplants that are 18" tall in gallon pots (a month before last frost!). I couldn't stop myself from thinking that I've come to this seed starting party a few weeks too late. But then I remembered reading on Darrel Jones' site that small, healthy plants are preferable to larger plants.....about phase of growth, etc. and I calmed down. I am not going to tear up or anything but could someone confirm that I am on track for successful tomato plants if they are only 1.5" high at 2.5 weeks from sowing and 4.5 weeks til plant out?