Tomatoes - First time grower

[Shon]

Hi everyone, I sowed all the tomato seeds that were in the packet (around 30 seeds) in a 5 by 5 cm pot and I have just read that I should have sowed 1-2 seeds per pot or all the seeds across a wider surface area. I sowed them a week ago and the seedlings have started to emerge. I am wondering whether I should leave them to grow and move them to a bigger pot after 8 weeks or if I should separate them into individual pots (how?). Can anyone help?!! Many thanks!

[JoeSpareBedroom]

Where did you "just read" the information you mentioned?

[Charlie]

Wait until they have their first true leaves and prick them out with a fork or similar small tool and transplant them into individual pots.

Here is an illustrated guide.

you wait eight weeks, you'll have nothing. They will be stunted and roots intertwined.

Good Luck Charlie

[Andrew Ostrander]

You will certainly have to separate them well before 8 weeks have passed. I allow only one tomato plant in a pot of that size!

Wait until their first true leaves appear, then move them to individual pots. I do this by submerging their starter pot in water then carefully pulling the seedlings out one at a time, using a knife to loosen the soil around each seedling. Then the seedllings go into their new pots and get a watering. You can wait longer than the first true leaves if you are unable to transplant them then, but they are very overcrowded as they are and will not develop well all in the same pot.

I use foam beer cups for my tomato seedlings because the seedlings grow fastest when kept in large pots.

Andrew