by Niki JabbourComments (40)
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In late spring, I am a repotting queen! I use plug flats and cell packs to start my vegetable, flower, and herb seeds– they’reextremely efficient in terms of space – but, they don’t offer a lot of root room. After 6 to 8 weeks under the grow lights, many of theseedlingsneed to be repotted into larger containers to ensure continued healthy growth until it’s time to move them into the garden.
You’ll know your seedlings are ready to be repotted when their roots have filled their current containers and their foliage iscrowding out the neighbours.Still not sure? Use a butter knife to pop a plant out of its pot and take a peek at the roots. If they’re well developed and encircling the soil ball, it’s time to repot.
Moving your seedlings to larger containers will help ensure a healthy root system and top-quality transplants for your garden.New containers should be about twice as large as the old ones.
Repotting 101:
- Gather all your materials (pots, potting soil, tags, waterproof marker, butter knife) first so that repotting is quick and efficient.
- Waterseedlings before starting. Moist soil will cling to the roots, protecting them from damage and drying out.
- No tugging! Don’t pull the baby plants from their cell flats or plug trays. Use a butter knife, narrow trowel, or even just a long nail to prick the seedlings from their containers.
- If there is more than one seedling in your container, gently tease them apart for repotting.
- Place them in the new pot, lightly tamping the soil.
- Have a stack of labels ready to go and give each pot afresh tag. Alternatively, use a waterproof marker to write the name of the plant on the side of the pot.
- Water with a diluted liquid fertilizer to settle the roots in the new soil and encourage healthy growth.
Do you have any morerepottingtips to add?
Reader Interactions
Comments
Cindi saysWhat transplants are safe to plant out in a tunnel and what should we be seeding in the garden now. With this snow sprinking this morning, i’m confused!
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- Niki Jabbour says
Good question! Yes, wasn’t that snow wonderful.. sigh! Anyway, any of the cool and cold season crops can be planted now – direct seeded in your tunnels.. or transplanted, provided they have been hardened off properly. Spinach, kale, lettuce, peas, endive, Asian greens, beets, carrots, etc.. The tunnel is a good idea.. just be sure to vent the ends when the temp outside is above 4 C and it’s sunny.. you don’t want it to get too hot in there! 🙂
- James R. Skinner says
I understand that some seedlings don’t like to be re-potted and should be started started in 4″ pots instead? Is there somewhere I can find a list of those vegetables.. I think its mainly cucumbers and squash?
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- Niki Jabbour says
Great question James! I don’t have a list – maybe a future article? – but you’re right… cucumbers and squash don’t like to be re-potted and so should be planted in 4 inch pots and moved to the garden carefully. It’s also important to not seed these too early in spring. Usually 3-4 weeks before the last frost date is ideal. Niki
- James R. Skinner says
Thanks Niki. Does pot size and start date apply to Cucamelons as well? Halifax Seed packet says sow inside 6-8 weeks prior to last frost date.
- Niki Jabbour says
Yes, that’s exactly right! I started my cucamelons yesterday and give them about 6-8 weeks under the grow lights. They are also sowed in 4 inch pots because they grow quickly. 🙂
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- Michelle says
Riffing what others have asked. I often start in larger pots planting 4 -5 seeds rather than the wee little multi cell flats. Is this a no-no, and if so why?
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- Niki Jabbour says
It’s not a no-no, but it’s not as space efficient as using flats/trays.. plus, 4 inch pots are deeper – this can reduce the need to water, but if you’re growing slow-growing seeds like peppers and the soil stays overly damp for an extended period, the plants can be more prone to rot. I like to grow fast-growing plants of those that don’t like transplanting in 4 inch pots – cucamelons, squash, and gourds for example. Otherwise, I aim to start my seeds in flats/trays. I can also fit many more under my grow lights when grown in flats/trays, and the roots don’t need to be separated/pulled apart/disturbed when there is one plant per cell, unlike having a handful in a 4 inch pot. Some plants don’t mind being separated, but others do (cucumbers for example). I think this would make a great post idea – maybe I’ll do a whole post on it 🙂 Thanks for your question! – Niki
- Cathy Mchale says
What if you don’t have a grow light can you use anything else? When do I take the plastic cover off from the top once it started growing
- Niki Jabbour says
Great question Cathy – take off the plastic cover as soon as the seedlings germinate. You want to ensure good air circulation around them. The plastic will help hold moisture and humidity to encourage quick germination, but once the seed sprout, remove it. A grow-light is best but mine are simple 4-foot fluorescent shop lights, so if you have a florescent bulb in your house, you can put your plants close to it. But ideally, a florescent bulb should be just 2-3 inches away from the plants. You can also buy a simple spot light grow bulb that screws into a normal mixture. They’re usually only about $15-20. Or, find a sunny, south-facing window to give them as much natural light as possible. Hope that helps! 🙂 – Niki
- Liza says
Helpful info! I started my tomato seedlings in a germination soil. They are in need of a bigger container before they are ready for outside. Should I still use the same soil or a potting mix for veggies?
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- Niki Jabbour says
Great question Liza! If you already have it, that soil is perfect. No need to buy another bag. If you need more, you could get some veggie potting mix. I usually use Pro-Mix, but there are many good quality potting soils. Hope that helps! – Niki
- Tina says
What type of soil do I use for re-potting?
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- Niki Jabbour says
Great question! I always use Pro-Mix potting mix. – Niki
- Monica S. says
Can I continue to use seed starting mix for the soil when I re-pot? That’s what I’m using for germination
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- Niki Jabbour says
Absolutely. I also give my seedlings a dose of a liquid organic fertilizer after I repot. – Niki
- Sherry L Middaugh says
When I repot can I use a larger container and repot a few seedlings at a time? For tomatoes I will use smaller pots and only 1 seedling per pot but for peppers can I repot multiples?
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- Niki Jabbour says
Good question! You can transplant multiples into one larger pot. Tomatoes grow so quick so I like to give them their own pot, going from a cell pack to a 4 inch pot for example. If the peppers get too big for their shared pots though, you’ll need to re-pot once again. – Niki
- Erika says
I’ve started my cucumbers in small peat pots but I think they will need to be repotted into larger containers before they go out. Any advice on how to transplant from one peat pot to another? Should I break away the original peat pot from the roots first?
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- Niki Jabbour says
I would definitely break away the original peat pot and repot into the larger one. Don’t worry about breaking away some of the outside roots, they will re-grow quickly. Personally, I don’t use peat pots. I find they need to be watered a lot, grow mold on the outside pot surface, and you really can’t transplant them. You should remove them before you move your seedings into the garden. I prefer plastic, reusing for as many years as I can before recycling. Good luck!! 🙂 – Niki
- geo L says
I believe that trying to grow seeds on window sills is futile, but grow lights aren’t necessary. The spectrum in them is necessary for promoting blooms, fruit, etc., but not for foliage growth. Plain, cheap 4′ fluorescents are adequate to grow all plants before transplanting outside.
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- Elly McCue says
Which liquid organic fertilizer do you recommend?
Thanks!Reply
- Niki Jabbour says
A fish or seaweed fertilizer is perfect! 🙂 – Niki
- Sherwood says
I am developing a woodland garden. I have been removing an invasive shrub. I will need lots of
Perennials, a lot more than I can afford to buy ready to go in the ground. So I will be and have already stated seeds of astilbe,Hosta. They are in seed trays of 72. I would like to trans plant them to 1/2 gallon to one gallon pots for the next few months to increase root size to increase survival when we planted in the woods. There are no prepared beds, and they will be planted directly into the Undisturbed soil.
Would this plan work better than just Transplanting them Directly from the trays? At present time there is no Irrigation in the woods and I feel a bigger plant may have a better chance to Survive. This woodland garden is almost 3/4of an Acre.
What are your thoughts on which would be best?
Thank you for your time.
I am not an experienced gardener.Reply
- Niki Jabbour says
Hi Sherwood… sounds like you have the right idea. I wouldn’t put tiny perennial seedlings directly into the woods. I would pot them up into larger pots the first year and continue to tend them. In late summer/early autumn they can be moved to the woodland site. It would be beneficial however to create little planting pockets for them when you do transplant them into the soil. Loosen the site (in the woods) and amend with some compost. These aren’t native plants, they’re cultivated perennials. If you want a woodland garden looks, consider plants native to your area – consult a local garden centre. You may also want to add some of these plants/ferns to your woods. Good luck!! Niki
- Karen says
I started my seeds in small coconut cells. Do I need to remove the coconut pots before I transplant?
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- Niki Jabbour says
I would… I find they don’t break down as quickly as needed. Carefully peel away the coconut cells before transplanting. It’s best to water them beforehand – it reduces stress but also soften the coconut for easier removal.
- Isilay says
Hi,
I am growing cucumbers and tomatoes. As I am new to this, I planted 3-4 seeds per pot and all have germinated. In some cucumber pots, I took away some of the seedlings but in some I have 3-4 plants growing together. I read that it will be difficult for the plants to thrive if I move all together outside to one pot. Is there any way a solution for this, e.g. using a large container when planting outside to accommodate the roots? I believe they are too big and entangled to separate at this point…Thank you.Reply
- Niki Jabbour says
Hi, great question! I would snip away some of the seedlings so you have one per pot. It’s hard to do, I know!! But will be worth it in the end. Leave the strongest plant and use scissors to clip the others off at the soil level. Cucumbers don’t like to have their roots disturbed and therefore don’t take well to being torn apart. Good luck! Niki
- Elise says
Hi! I think I was too late in repotting my seedlings. I repotted my basil seedlings from the small seedling tray about 4-5 weeks after. It’s now repotted in small pots. I saw that the roots were already a bit crowded. Any tips on how to ensure the seedling’s survival?
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- Niki Jabbour says
Hey Elise, I’d give them a diluted dose of a liquid fertilizer (diluted by half the recommended dose) and plenty of light. They should bounce back fine. – Niki
- Debi says
Hi Niki,
I planted my seeds in the pellets with the white netting. Do I remove the netting before replanting?
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- Niki Jabbour says
Hi Debi, great question! And yes, I would remove the netting. Good luck! – Niki
- Kiley says
Could I use plastic cups for planting after I use the nursery flats?
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- Niki Jabbour says
Sure… just be sure to poke holes in the bottoms of the cups for good drainage.
- Ivy says
I planted a bunch of tomato seeds in a big old salad container with holes punched in the bottom. Not sure when/to move them they are small and purple (I think cause I’ve been putting them outside for sun and it’s windy) but they are starting to get their little true leaves now? I don’t know what I’m doing as this is my first time trying to plant things. Will I be able to separate them or are they kind of doomed?
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- Niki Jabbour says
Hi Ivy, welcome to the (garden) club! 🙂 Tomatoes actually transplant very easily, but I wouldn’t wait too long. Once they’ve got a set of true leaves (or two) I’d move them into their own pots. 3 or 4 inch diameter pots are perfect. Water so that the soil is lightly moist and give them a dose of fertilizer (diluted to half strength). That should help them along. Good luck! Niki
- Kent B. says
I repotted a small tree sapling into a larger pot. It has been sitting there, doing nothing, for a month. It’s healthy and well watered, but has no new growth that I can see. Is that normal?
I had other trees of the same species, in pots that, also showed very slow growth but once in the ground took off running.Reply
- Patrick says
Beginner question, if I have seedlings growing in the same pot and its time to separate them, but I don’t have the other stuff to transfer into. Can I seperate them and then re-pot them again, or should I wait til I have the stuff and re-pot them then?
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- Gracie Adams says
What do I do with 2-3″ leggy tomato plants. It has rained so much that I couldn’t harden them off. Have them outside today for 1 hr to start the hardening process. What next ? Thanks Gracie
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