Allotments 4 All

As I am a Supersprout type mulching follower I have been starting everything off in the greenhouse as recomended by our much missed friend.
The problem I have as a fairly new veggie grower is how big should the stuff be before transplanting to plot? Is there a rule of thumb? The books don't seem to cover this point although I did check out the local garden cenre and their stuff looked bigger and better than mine :o
So from the point of view of establishing a good root system, is bigger better?

No!

But what, especially, are you growing?

The size of the plants can make a difference with time to maturity but is often a liability. Failing to harden off the plants properly seems to be the biggest cause of failure nowadays as this in between stage is where plants are most at risk. Changes of temperature alone are not the killer but the physical damage caused by exposure to the elements, wind, rain, lack of rain, pests etc.

I keep all my pots in the back garden until ready for the plot, taking them indoors overnight if bad weather is forecast. Usually my plants arrive on the plot smaller than many of my companions but hopefully do not suffer from the broken stems and scorched leaves which seem common.

Bigger plants will get away faster though if they have been grown well, hardened off properly and planted out at the optimum time into well prepared soil.

I don't have a hard and fast rule but as a great believer in root systems I look to see if the plant/s I am growing have filled the container they are growing in.

If they have I decide if the time is right to pot up or plant out, so basically size of plant doesn't come into it in my book.

I'm worrying about some of mine getting too big before they can go out, because they took off so quickly in all that hot weather. I'll end up with my toatoes in buckets before they go out at this rate, which seems like a waste of ompost and effort to me!

eric planted his tomatoes under a cloche made from fleece, 2 weeks ago..they seem to be doing well  :)

Right with TG there. But would still like to know which plants?

Meanwhile - here's a thought.

The plug plants have great roots (& they are 'ready to plant') but, to my mind, need TLC first.

Then there's a similar plant - after TLC - but with too little root to put out.
Yes, it will grow, but only after a struggle.

And a waste of compost!

Brasicas, toms, sweetcorn. Most really.Toms and sweetcorn are still at home although they are hardened off now.some are bigger than others, but armed with the info I shall inspect how the roots are doing before deciding to plant out. I think I'm in too much of a hurry really.

Emaggie - have just noticed your avatar, made me lol  ;D

 ;D ;D ;D to Greenscrump.
Thanks all for your input, and the photos Tim. It helps to be a bit confident about what I'm doing