Gardening questions

[hazystargazer]

Hey all! I'm fairly new to vegetable gardening...I've already started seeds (tomato, cucumber, cilantro, and a few other herbs) indoors, so I think I've got that part covered. They're all coming up pretty well so far, but now that they're seedlings, what do I need to do? I'm planning on keeping most of them in containers for now. I want to start a big ground garden at some point this summer, but I'm trying not to overwhelm myself! So should I transfer them to bigger pots? How many seedlings per pot? The spacing and how many seedlings per pot is probably my main concern. I'm in NE Indiana, so should I start "hardening" them off now??? Sorry if these are dumb questions...I just want some homegrown veggies this summer! Thanks!

[Missy]

How big are the pots you want to transfer into?

I would start hardening off now, I would think. But I am not all together sure of your area's weather patterns.

[Contrary Housewife]

Tomato plants will grow to be several feet wide and will need space between them and the next plant. There should be information on the seed packet, but sometimes they don't give you any planting information. I would not put tomatoes any closer than 2 feet apart.

Cucumbers can be a little closer, I think. If you are using pots you also want cages for them to grow on (it's a vine).

With herbs I have found I can put 2-3 plants into a 12" pot, but they will stay smaller than if I had one plant per pot.

Here are some sites that might help:

Perdue Univ. Horticulture
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/conhort.html

Perdue Agricultural Extension site:
http://www.extension.purdue.edu/gardentips/

Indiana Garden CLub: http://www.gardenclubofindiana.org/

Indianapolis Library links for gardeners:
http://www.imcpl.org/resources/guide...gardening.html

Most states have similar resources available for their communities.

[redmaples]

you need to know your zone & the last frost date ...
probably start hardening off now, it depends what you've started the seeds in as to whether or not you need to repot before planting in the ground.
I started seeds in the little peat pellets, when the roots come through the
bottom, i transfer to a container w/ potting soil. sometimes they are the bigger peat pots, sometimes recycled paper cups or even recycled yogurt containers if I have them.

good job on starting your own plants!

[Trentt]

I'm NW of you in Wisconsin and I've got nearly everything outdoors waiting to go into the ground, so start hardening off now.

Tomato plants will grow so much huger than you can conceive. Only the determinate varieties do well in containers in my experience, and then only small-fruited types like cherry tomatoes give a good yield. They will do so much better in the earth. Their root systems are epic things.

Cilantro will do well in pots, but plant it every 2 or 3 weeks if you want it continuously. It grows quickly, flowers, produces seeds, and dies. Successive plantings will provide you with cilantro for the entire season.

I never tried growing cucumbers in containers. I'd think the bush type would be better suited for container culture. Again, I think you'll have a much better harvest if they are transplanted into the ground.

I'd keep tomatoes and cucumber plants several feet apart. Cilantro can be crowded a bit.

[hazystargazer]

Thanks so much to you all for the advice! I started hardening off my plants yesterday...I'll let you know how they're doing in a few weeks or so!