| |
You are here: Experts > Food/Drink > Vegetarian Cuisine > Growing Vegetables > When to transplant tomatos
Expert: Elyse Grau - 10/22/2009
Question
Hi there;
I live in Australia, and it's mid-spring and getting a lot warmer now! I bought some little tomato plants (in individual plastic containers) a few weeks ago, and they seem to get a little taller each week. Right now, they're around 4-6 inches in height and their roots are starting to dangle and drag out of the bottom of the containers.
a) I'm just wondering, what is the ideal height to put them into a larger pot? Should the pot be large?
b) I got told the other day that once tomatos have been blown around at night by cold air, they're never going to be good. For some odd reason, we've had a really cold fortnight (around 4 degrees Celsius at night and early morning), and I left the plants out in that for around 3 days until I bought a mini greenhouse for them. Will they survive? They don't SEEM any different, though they weren't growing as fast.
Thanks!
Answer
Kay:
There is no height requirement for transplanting. If the roots are outgrowing the pot, it is time to transplant. When you do, repot the plant deeply - up to the bottom leaves if possible.
As for what you were told, it is nonsense. The person may have been thinking about the fruits or blossoms - cold temperatures will cause some internal damage, and blossoms will fall off. The plants WILL be damaged by frost however.
They sound like they are doing fine. Once the nighttime temperatures are consistently above 13 degrees C. they can be planted outside.
Add to this Answer Ask a Question
|
|
