HOW TO GROW TOMATOES {PART ll: TRANSPLANTING & REPOTTING}

The weather today would make me believe it's still winter - grey, gloomy with that 'white stuff' crumbling on what should be green grass.  What better way to acknowledge that it is actually spring then by transplanting my tomato seedlings!  Common summer - we're waiting!!

A couple weeks ago we sowed our tomato seeds (see part 1) - and by now, they should be at a size you can transplant (approx 4 leaves and 3-4" tall).  It's great to repot tomato seedlings for a number of reasons: 1 - if you plant multiple seeds per potting cell, they need more space, 2 - to prep their root system for the great outdoors (these plants are going to grow lots in the next couple weeks and need space, approx 3" square).  So here's the best way to make the move easy for these lil guys:





1. Gather Your Supplies

• Potting Mix (try to use the same kind you planted them in originally)
• Cups/Pots (I use Styrofoam cups, ok - not environmentally friendly - but I find they are the perfect size and I try to reuse them from year to year.  You want a container about 3" in diameter)
• Pencil
• Oven pan or shallow dish
  
  
  
  
  
  
   

2. Prepare Cups/Pots/Containers

• We want to make sure the new cups have proper drainage (in case of over watering).  I use a pencil and poke a hole at the bottom of each Styrofoam cup.  This will allow the water to drain properly.

3. Add Soil

• Add new potting soil to each cup.  I fill the cups almost to the top and tap it with my hand let the soil settle without pressing down and compacting the soil too much.

4. Water

• First water the new soil in the Styrofoam cups.  Make sure the cups are sitting in a pan as water will likely seep through.  You need just enough to make the soil damp but not swampy.  
• Next water the tomato plants in their current location.  By doing this, the soil will stick to the roots a bit more allowing the transplant to be less of a shock for the root system, and protect the root from drying out.

5. Pencil Power

• With the pencil make 2-3" holes in the soil of each Styrofoam cup - wiggle in a circular motion to allow enough space for the transplant.  
• Now for the tricky part - we want to 'dig up' our tomato seedling WITHOUT damaging the root.  Take the pencil and poke into the soil by the tomato plant till the pencil hits the bottom of the container cell.  Gently 'jack up' the soil with the pencil and with the other hand gently and slowly lift the tomato seedling up.  It's best to hold it by it's leaves.  As the tomato seedling comes out of the soil so should the root system (it should be quite long).  Remember the slower and more gently you do this the less stress on the root system and better chance of the seedling making the transplant successful!

6. Transplanting

• Take the seedling and place roots in new soil holes that were made.  Sometimes I use my pencil to gently make sure the roots make it to the bottom instead of bunching on top.  Make sure to plant the seedling so most of it's stem is now under soil (everything under soil - like the stem - will root and encourage a stronger rooting system).  
• With your finger tips press seedling into soil and straighten out.
• Add more soil on top - technically the soil can be nearly up to the leaves.

7.  Label

• With a black sharpie label each cup with the brand of tomato.  This year I have 4 varieties - so I just use initials (IH = Italian Heirloom).  This way, when making their way outside, I know what tomato plant is which.

Remember tomatoes like sun!!  Place pans of new transplanted seedlings by a window that gets lots of light.  This will also ensure the tomatoes don't grow tall and weak (when the get little sun - they reach to the light more - causing weak root systems and thin frail plants).   At this stage I water the new transplants every 4 days or so - a typical rule of thumb is to water at the first sign of wilt.  By not watering every day allows the root system to work harder to get nourishment, resulting in a strong root system and stalky stem.

Let me know how your tomato plants are doing!!  Please share or comment :)