Propagator seeding transplanting help please

schumie

Hi everyone

I was given a propagator and have used it this week for the first time and its brilliant. All my pepper, courgette and tomato seeds have come up and it says transplant them as soon as they big enough to handle.

What sort of compost do i put them in though when i transplant then? I started them in the seedlings compost but i will need to buys some today and want to make sure i get the right thing or growing my veg won't be very OS if they all die!

Sambucus_Nigra

Potting compost is your next stage.

However, don't transplant them too quickly. You need to let the first 'true' leaves show before you do; and only handle them by the first 2 'seed' leaves.

I usually leave mine until the first 2 real leaves are out, and then transplant. As soon as your seedlings are showing signs of germination, take them out of the propagator and let them grow on for a couple of weeks first somewhere light like the kitchen table. If you leave them in the prop they will get too leggy too fast, and won't survive outside of the prop and will probably fall over once you transplant.

Also, courgettes? I don't even sow mine for another month yet. They can't go into the ground for another 8 weeks at least; so unless you are growing them indoors or in a heated greenhouse - be prepared for these to either be checked in growth or to rot off [sorry, but it is far to early yet].

schumie

No thanks for the advice, i really do need it so i'll put them in the kitchen and hope they do ok. I've only sown 5 seeds of courgettes from the packet so not too bad if they do die. I'll go and get the compost today because the top two leaves on the tomatoes are out so looks like a good time. Thanks for the advice.

Sambucus_Nigra

The first two leaves on the tomato are the seed leaves; you really need to wait until the next set of leaves are out.

You need to give the plant time to make enough roots so that when you transplant - they don't die.

sirbrainy

My kitchen courgettes came up a couple of weeks ago but are being quite slow to develop true leaves. I'm going to pot them on and stick them outside in the next few days, I'll just keep an eye on the weather forecast to avoid leaving them outside if a frost is forecast.

schumie

Ahh ok thanks for the tip i thought once the first two leaves were out it would be ok. Can you tell this is my first time at growing tomatoes from seed :-)

I have always just bought developed plants from the garden centre before when i had money but doing it the proper OS way this year.

Farway

sirbrainy wrote: »

My kitchen courgettes came up a couple of weeks ago but are being quite slow to develop true leaves. I'm going to pot them on and stick them outside in the next few days, I'll just keep an eye on the weather forecast to avoid leaving them outside if a frost is forecast.

This is much too early, the ambient temperature is much too low, they will just sit & sulk

If they are slow to develop leaves indoors just what do you think they will do in a much lower temperature outside?

sirbrainy

It'll toughen them up.

Anyway, we've been having 10-14C the last few days, dropping down to 7-8C next week but then it rises again.

Courgettes for me in May I reckon

thacky

sirbrainy wrote: »

It'll toughen them up.

No, it won't , it will kill them!

sirbrainy

They'll only die if they get frosted

misskool

It's way too early for courgettes. I know because that's what I did in my first year and they didn't really grow as well as when I planted them after the weather was better.

Loads of other things to start sowing now, courgettes grow big really quickly so you can always leave that till later.