I’m getting the whole house ready for my unexpected trip to Colorado. My to-do list is a mile long, but I’m excited to share one garden chore that I can’t wait to do when I get back: potting up my tomato seedlings!
You see, I took my seedlings out of their tiny 72-cell starter tray and planted them in bigger 3.5” pots. This is because I want to give them a chance to grow strong roots. The smaller tray doesn’t allow them to spread out enough. The roots get crowded, which can stress them out. This makes it hard for them to get the nutrients they need to survive.
It’s also too early in the season for them to thrive in the wild. I’m planting them in bigger pots to give them a little extra time. This way, the outside conditions will be perfect for them to grow.
I live in zone 7a, sometimes b, so I usually plant my tomatoes after Mother’s Day. But I always push the limits and watch the weather closely. I try to plant them in the ground as early as I can get away with.
When I first planted the seeds in the 72-cell, I put two seeds in each cell. And guess what? Almost all of them grew into plants! I was so surprised! In my YouTube video, you can see me carefully separating each plant into its own pot.
I also plant my tomatoes deep. They’ll grow more roots along the stem, so I plant them as deep as the first set of true leaves. A strong root system is essential for the plant to produce fruit. Or tomatoes!
I know some of them will die, and I’m sure some did. But I had an amazing 43 tomato plants survive this whole process!
Have you checked out my YouTube channel yet? Click here and see me in action.