Germinating seeds - when to move out of propagator?

[IndigoElectron]

As the title says - at what point do I take my seedlings out of the heated propagator (which is in the lightest place possible near a plug socket, but still doesn't get loads of light) and move to a windowsill? Is it as soon as I see them emerge, or do I wait until the seed leaves appear? I know I need to prick them out when they get their seed leaves, but the last tomatoes I grew got leggy due to lack of light. So I think I need to move them before they are ready to prick out. I'll be growing a variety of vegetables and flowers, if that makes a difference. Thanks

[Mikey]

I separated mine last weekend, they were between 1 and 2 inches tall, they were dropped back into a pot with most of the stem covered. then the pot was lightly watered and covered and put back on a sunny windowsill no longer heated. I won't need to monitor the watering for a couple of weeks at least, I have to leave them covered when in the house as the OH has a menty if there are any flies about.

[rustylady]

As the title says - at what point do I take my seedlings out of the heated propagator (which is in the lightest place possible near a plug socket, but still doesn't get loads of light) and move to a windowsill? Is it as soon as I see them emerge, or do I wait until the seed leaves appear? I know I need to prick them out when they get their seed leaves, but the last tomatoes I grew got leggy due to lack of light. So I think I need to move them before they are ready to prick out. I'll be growing a variety of vegetables and flowers, if that makes a difference. Thanks

Remove them from the propagator as soon as you see them emerge. You don't need to prick them out into separate pots until they have proper leaves though (provided you've sown them thinly enough). I sow five or six tomato or chilli seeds per three and a half inch half-pot.

[IndigoElectron]

Thank you both

[Potstubsdustbins]

If they get leggy you can pot deep every time you pot on. The pics give some idea of later deep potting on. Doing this will give you a good strong plant as extra roots are produced every time you do it.

Potty

[Two_Sheds]

If they get leggy you can pot [them] deep

... or wait until the days are longer & lighter.

It's great germinating these seedlings, but you need to have room & lots of light to keep them in until they can go outside in May

[kathyd]

Keep saying it TS, we might all listen one day . xx

[Potstubsdustbins]

TS I agree with you none of my tom seeds are planted yet, but if the grape already has germinated seedlings then this is about the only way of saving the situation.

Potty

[IndigoElectron]

Thanks Potty, those pictures are really helpful. In the end I decided to start again though, to give my plants the best start possible. I assume I am the 'grape' you are referring to - what a lovely name to give to forum members

Two Sheds, I only sowed the tomato seeds now because my Square Metre Gardening said to do it so many weeks (can't remember how many) before the last frost date. I thought I'd done that, but as I explained on my other thread, I think I got the dates wrong. I don't mind waiting to sow more, we don't have that much room for a lot of plants. Can I ask when you sow yours?

[Tadpole123]

Two Sheds, I only sowed the tomato seeds now because my Square Metre Gardening said to do it so many weeks (can't remember how many) before the last frost date. I thought I'd done that, but as I explained on my other thread, I think I got the dates wrong. I don't mind waiting to sow more, we don't have that much room for a lot of plants. Can I ask when you sow yours?

You'll be OK. I live near Crystal Palace so not too far from you and I've had my toms outside in mid April before, and will have a couple outside this year. But you have to faff around a bit. Mine will have bottle cloches and fleece too, which gets removed on warm days.
I do sq ft gardening too and whilst I agree with most of Mels timing, toms is one I don't. I assume in the states after their frost dates it warms up quickly.
What you do this year may not be right for next. The weather has it's own ideas. Last year I had snow till end of March, the year before I was in shorts and t-shirts at 21c.
As a rule I sow most of mine end March or beginning of April, depending on the weather. Then you get good stocky plants, that aren't indoors for to long.

[TrialAndError]

It's great germinating these seedlings, but you need to have room & lots of light to keep them in until they can go outside in May

So true, plant them too early and you either run out of space that has light or crowd them all together and they get some fungal disease.

A 10 week old tomato plant isn't as small and cuddly as is was when it was three weeks old!