Potting/transplanting off Jalapeno & Tomato plants & SUCCESS with freshchilli seeds!

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hi all,

I have about 10 Jalapeno seedlings-between 1 1/2 to 2 niches high-2 big leaves & just the start of 2nd set of leaves...however they are in a small propogating plastic tray (about 7 inches x 4) & the depth of compost is only about an inch. I also have some cerise tomato plants in same size container-these are abot 3 inches tall & are have 2nd set of leaves.....do you think now is the time to transplant to individual pots (obviously not putting outside till end May)? The plants do not seem to be growing that fast (they're on a windowsill).

Also...if you've seen some of my other posts I experiemented with 4 pots (2 seeds in each) each of 2 types of chilli (haberno from carribean market & long green chillis from local asian shop)....my habernos have germinated (well 1/2 of them-took 3 weeks) & are already 1 inch high in 5 days (no sign of life from green chilli seeds!)! They seem to be growing faster already than seedlings in trays-maybe due to depth of compost (or am i barking up the wrong tree?)...which set me thinking about my trays of Jalapenos & tomatos-any experts out there care to advise?

Thanks!

Lotus-eater

Yes, repot them now.

balloo_2

Transplant when the 2nd set of true leaves appear and hold by the leaves otherwise you can damage the stems.

DEBTMONKEY1A

Thanks guys! That was quick! Baloo.......2nd set have appeared on tomatos....just showing (but not formed yet)on chillis...should I just repot tomoatos & hang on for chillis?

DEBTMONKEY1A

Any more ideas anyone?

Primrose

I'd repot your chillis as soon as the first real leaves appear otherwise the root system risks getting stunted and there won't be sufficient nutrients in the small amount of compost in that shallow tray to feed them adequately. Put both chillis and tomatos into minimum 3" pots and keep indoors on a light window sill until it's warm enough to plant them out although on warm days in May they can go outside during the daytime. If you see roots growing out of the bottom of the pots, transfer to bigger pots otherwise they will become potbound and their growth will be halted. My chillis end up in 10" pots filled with compost taken from a growbag, but I mix in some chicken manure pellets to ensure that there are still sufficient nutrients in the compost by August/September when they will be fruiting heavily.

DEBTMONKEY1A

Thanks primrose....the 1st 'real' leaves are just starting to appear...think I'll pot em on -tomatos have 1st real leaves too...so will do today/tomorrow! Wondered why the chillis were not doing much..after all 20 seedlings in a small propogating tray ( i guess around 6 inches x 4?) means that most of the nutrients will have gone...will update in a week (assuming they don't die before then!)!