Time to repot the tomato plants

How to repot seedlings

This is my kitchen window sill where I have been growing my garden plants.
As you can see I have got a rather tall spindly specimen, and a pot of very crowded little seedlings. they are probably all shouting 'let me out, let me out!'

First thing to do is to get all your supplies together. I am going to use a large pot for the bigger plant and 10cm pots for the seedlings. The reason I have chosen a large pot is that I need to plant it deep. The great thing about tomato plants is that they will put out new roots anywhere along their stem, so although I have let it get a bit leggy, I can rescue it!

I've taken the poor devil outside as the light is a bit better. He has a nice root ball which I won't disturb, but I'm going to be a bit ruthless and take off the lower three leaves. I placed the plant in a deep pot and decided that I could take off the leaves as they would be below the compost. Some people will do this up to three times, but I let this one get away from me! It wont grow so fast to begin with as it will put more energy into growing roots. In the long run you get a much healthier plant that produces more fruit. . . Hopefully.

This is Lola getting in on the action . . .trust a cat.
The plant at the front is one I grew earlier, and looks more like a 'proper' tomato plant.

 Next job, repotting the tomato seedlings.

 I left them a bit dry as I find it easier to tease them apart.

 I thought six plants should be enough as I already have three more mature plants outside. It is hard throwing good plants away but just pick out the strongest looking ones. I'm using 10cm plastic pot which were quite a bargain at a pound for twenty (all the pound stores are selling them) Put a few pebbles or broken crocks in the bottom for drainage.

 Add a little all purpose compost in the bottom, dangle the plant over the bottom, fill up, press plant in firmly. Stand them in saved washed out meat trays.

Water well and hey presto another chore completed. I will be bringing these in at night for about a week and then they can stop outside permanently.
I 'll keep you updated with their progress, or failure as the case may be.
 Thought I had better note that I am using varieties of tomatoes that will grow outdoors and not the greenhouse types.