Once they've germinated...

[kitten]

Okay, sorry to ask such a basic question, but i don't want to spoil my little lovelys!

Almost all of the seeds we sowed a couple of weeks ago are up & standing proud (beetroot, carrots, various lettuces) ;D I'd say they're about an inch or so tall. Do I now take the propogator lid off to let them grow a bit stronger before potting them on into individual 3" pots? 

If so, i'm gonna need a lot more pots....  :o

[kitten]

[Georgie]

My advice is to pot on your seedlings as soon as they are big enough to handle.  They don't need the propogator once they have germinated.

G x

[kitten]

Thanks Georgie, i know it's a v basic question, but i didn't want to risk losing them! kitten x

[emmy1978]

It is the basics Kitten!!  I posted a basic today too, but you gotta find out somehow and the books don't tell you these little facts do they?
I usually take the lid off my propagator as soon as everything has popped up, as you say, give them a bit of space to grow, strengthen up, then pot on, and yes, lots of pots!! I'm sowing a lot of stuff straight into the ground as I have tiny flat and limited windowsill space. Mini greenhouse full of flowers, no room for veg!! Will have to get another.  ;D

[kitten]

Thanks emmy, glad to know there's someone else who asks these sort of questions  ;D  BUT....

I've just tried to re pot my little beetroot seedlings and it's pretty much the most frustrating thing i've ever done - i could spit i'm so annoyed!  I tried to ease them out of the little cells they're in, and the compost just kept falling apart, leaving me with the tiny thread like seedlings in my mitt.  Do you think we didn't firm the earth enough when we sowed them?

Exasperated, of Lincolnshire

[manicscousers]

we planted pinches of carrots straight into small fibre pots so we can put them straight in the ground, same with beetroot, only 2 seeds per pot..I always find them too fiddly to transplant but then, I've got sore joints  :)

[tim]

There's a difference, to my mind, between pricking out & potting up. Some teachings differ!

I view the first as moving a plant with 2 seed leaves (hold only these) & tiny root from a crowded tray into a container with  wider spacing.

The latter I see as putting a seedling with a well established root system (so that the soil does NOT drop off!) into, say, a 3" pot. This would then be potted on when it had filled that pot with roots.

With Beet & Chard, I reckon it's better to pre-germinate & 'plant' direct.

[machman5]

Tim, I've heard this said a few times now.... 'pre-germinate'  :-\.  Can you explain to me what it means? 
You explain things in such a way that I always understand ;D
Thanks,
Donna

[katynewbie]

 ;D

The clearest explanation I have seen of the difference betwen those two things.

Thanks Tim, useful for lots of people!

;)

[tim]

Mach - put them in moist kitchen tissue in the warm. Like sprouting edible beans - only different!

[machman5]

Mach - put them in moist kitchen tissue in the warm. Like sprouting edible beans - only different!

Thanks Tim, I assume I then put into 3" pots?  Donna

[SMP1704]

or if it dry/warm enough and the ground is prepared, plant them straight out.

I did that with peas last year and had excellent results.  Also I'm told that mice won't touch them once they have sprouted and I don't think I lost any.

Being an impatient Aries, I pre-germinated my Sweet Peas this year and sowed several into 3" pots.  Coming up after a week in a plastic greenhouse.

The books say that beetroot doesn't like to be moved.  I sowed Boltardy last year, first in peat pots and then direct, but couldn't face throwing away the thinnings, so planted them on and had double beetroot - all perfectly formed. :D

[tim]

Donna - I meant in their final positions.

I have had success with transplanting but, as SMP says, they are supposed to be touchy about it.

Not a lot of point, though,  in preparing them until the ground is fit to receive them. Nothing likes a check.

[machman5]

Right, gotcha, will give this a try, thanks  ;D

[Tee Gee]

Thanks Tim saved me a lot of typing!........... I agree with all that you have written 8)

[tim]

I'm the one who should be wearing the shades!!

[tim]

This is my sort of pricking out stage.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I don't touch them at that stage. I let them grow a couple of proper leaves first. At that point I mostly put them straight into 3-inch pots.

[tim]

Very correct!

[kitten]

a seedling with a well established root system (so that the soil does NOT drop off!) into, say, a 3" pot. This would then be potted on when it had filled that pot with roots.

With Beet & Chard, I reckon it's better to pre-germinate & 'plant' direct.

Thanks tim, it sounds like i'm being too impatient and moving them too early then.  Yes, i think i'll be sticking to sowing them direct in the future!  Thanks for the help  :)