Effect of transplant root-cell size and production location on fresh-market tomato yields

‘Pik-Red’ tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) transplants produced in 2 locations (Florida and Michigan), in 6 root cell sizes were compared for fruit productivity in Michigan. Transplants grown in large cells produced more early yields than those from small cells, but generally did not produce more total yields. Large root cell size had a greater effect on transplant size than did wide spacing in the flat. Speedling root cell size 175 (39.5 cm3) produced the largest transplants, the largest early fruit yields, and the greatest weight of marketable fruit. Transplants grown in Speedling trays in Michigan produced larger early yields than Speedling transplants grown in Florida.