The story: every year we are flooded with seedlings that are 1-2 feet tall in 4 inch pots and with claims that those "mature" plants will give you an early start, will produce earlier etc.
But I have had a completely opposite experience with the large seedlings vs smaller ones. Smaller ones (5 inches or so) did so great for me – they transplanted like it was nothing, they grew fast, the stem was thick, plants were healthy and the most important part – they produced a lot more. My bigger plants were stalled after transplanting and didn't grew much and produced poorly.
Now I am curious what's everyone's experience is?
My ideal size is in a pic.
by BurgundySnail
2 Comments
For me, the stouter and darker green the greater success.
You have learned an important lesson. The bigger a plant in a too small container, the more stressed that plant is when it goes in. I’ve planted 30 inch tall seedlings before, and they do OK, but they don’t become those beasts I get with a well timed small seedling.
I think of growing tomatoes and getting them transplanted for best success as maintaining momentum. I start seeds exactly 6 weeks before planting. I try to get those plants growing aggressively that last week and get them out when they’re about 8 to 12 inches in a 3.5″ nursery pot. Then they continue their growth after they get through a few days of transplant shock and they’re off to the races.