The plants have been in there a month and are very healthy looking, stocky seedlings. But when I try to tansplant them they seem to hold on to the cells they are planted in. I normally let them dry out a little, but not to the point of wilting, before I attempt transplanting.

While the tomatoes aren't leggy, and seem to have a good root system, I can't seem to remove them without damaging the roots and the full soil ball rarely comes out. Is there a trick to it I am missing? I used a seed starting mix.

Maybe that is just par for the course with those little seedlings and I don't realize it, but I expected them to be more like their larger counterparts, think individual plants or a 4 pack, where the whole plant and root ball easily removes from the tray.

The plants still transplant and grow out fine, I just don't want to be damaging the roots if I don't have to. It just feels like something is wrong. And I realize this could have gone in the Growing From Seed forum too, but I was wondering if there was maybe something specific about tomato transplants.

I hope that helps.

Betsy

When they're particularly stubborn, I push up from the bottom of the cell, though I'm sure that's not good for the plastic.