Allotments 4 All

???

Seed packets all say that you sow them in whatever container and then transplant seedlings when big enough. With something like chillies, could you just sow them in the pot they are staying in to save the bother, just thinning as necessary?

No problem. The reason for sowing then transplanting is to maximise on germination and initial space.

Sowing in a small pot ensures the development of a strong root structure, and that the plant does not concentrate on root development at the expense of foliage, flowers and fruit. For this reason I start chillies in modules, then pot onto 3" pots, then after about 12 weeks on into 10" pots.

You can just start off with a big pot, but sometimes you want to plant things like toms a bit deeper in their final transplants because they will put out roots slightly higer up the stem than the level at which they were first planted.

'Potting on' as its called, is also a bit like adding a top dressing of fresh compost and nutrients. If you are flushing the nutrients out of all of the compost from day 1, then the roots may not pick up as much of the benefit that it would from encountering fresh compost 3 times. (thats all just guess work by the way!)

One of the main reasons why too large  a pot will cause a problem for a young seedling is that the soil will hold more water and it is easy to waterlog the roots.

There is some research about how the size of a container affects the growth of plants, and really it covers most of the points below:
http://www.looksmartgardening.com/p/articles/mi_qa3930/is_200305/ai_n9257483

:D

V interesting jenny..thanks, will try to do things properly from now on...my new seasons resolution!!!

;)