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You Say Tomayto
I say Tomahhhto

Starting from Seed... 
The First 15 -30 days

Selecting and Potting the stronger Seedlings!

Handle the plants gently, don't pinch them!


First select the Seedlings that look good... a second set of leaves, a nice deepgreen color and a generous white root system.

Next, lightly moisten each compartment of your cardboard egg carton or whatever container used to start the seeds. Let it stand for one hour. This makes it easier to separate the young seedlings without hurting the roots

Now have your Supplies & Tools always within arms reach for this project... A kitchen knife,  moist seed starter, 3 - 4" peat pots, sheets of foil, a clean surface to work, a gallon of rain water with very diluted fertilizer.

 

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From Seedling to Harvest
These Seeds are from the Champs over the years
Your comments are welcome

Your dull knife is used to assit you in making a cavity in the potting soil, separating the seedling and tamping the soil in the new pot.

Use that knife to slice a verticle hole into the moist seed starter mix in each 2-3" peat pot. If your seedlings are leggy, make certain to set each plant deep down into the pot. 

Once you have your seedling snuggled gently into the pot, wrap the sides of the peat pots with foil and lightly water with a very diluted, soluable fertilizer. 
Place the plants on a window-sill with a good southern exposure and a daytime temp of about 70F. In two weeks, your plants will double in size.

Tools and Supplies... Potting soil, knife, foil, water, peat pots

The task of potting your tomato seedlings takes a couple of hours... get all the supplies before you start.

Select seedlings
The TomatoSeedlings after 20 Days of growth! The plants above are somewhat "strechy" so when potting, set them deep into the container almost up to the first set of leaves. You'll get great roots!

 

Peat is an important component of potting soil mixes, soil conditioners, rooting medium, and packing medium for shipping. Peats increase the water storage capacity of sandy soils and the permeability of heavy clay soils. Added to any soil, peat will increase the nutrient holding capacity of the soil. 
The University of Minnesota
Dept. of Water, Soil and Climate
See how the Peat Pot allows for great root growth
 

     
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