Nursery Pot Sizes: 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 Inch by Growth Stage
Start seeds and rooted cuttings in a 4 or 4.5 inch pot, move young plants to 5.5 or 6 inch, grow them on for sale in 8 or 10 inch, and keep 12 inch and larger for saplings and shrubs. We make nursery pots in every one of those sizes, from 4 to 18 inch, across three ranges.
Which nursery pot sizes do we make?
| Size | Range | Dia x height | Pack qty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 inch | Sumo Nursery Pot | 4 x 3.5 inch | 250 pcs |
| 4.5 inch | Nursery Pots | 4.5 x 4 inch | 250 pcs |
| 5.5 inch | Nursery Pots | 5.5 x 5 inch | 150 pcs |
| 6 inch | Nursery Pots (Super) | 6 x 5.5 inch | 120 pcs |
| 6 inch | Sumo | 6 x 5.5 inch | 150 pcs |
| 8 inch | Nursery Pots and Sumo | 8 x 7 inch | 40 pcs |
| 10 inch | Nursery Pots and Sumo | 10 x 8 inch | 40 pcs |
| 12 inch | Nursery Pots (Super) | 12 x 9 inch | 25 pcs |
| 12 inch | Sumo | 12 x 8 inch | 25 pcs |
| 14 inch | Sumo | 14 x 11.25 inch | 20 pcs |
| 16 inch | Sumo | 16 x 13 inch | 15 pcs |
| 18 inch | Sumo | 18 x 14 inch | 10 pcs |
All three ranges come in Black, Terracotta and Milky White, in 100% virgin plastic.
Which size suits which growth stage?
| Growth stage | Pot size | Our options |
|---|---|---|
| Seedlings, plugs and rooted cuttings | 4 to 4.5 inch | Sumo 4 inch, Nursery Pots 4.5 inch |
| Young plants after first potting on | 5.5 to 6 inch | Nursery Pots 5.5 inch, Super or Sumo 6 inch |
| Plants grown on for retail sale | 8 to 10 inch | Nursery Pots or Sumo |
| Saplings, shrubs and specimen plants | 12 to 18 inch | Super 12 inch, Sumo 12 to 18 inch |
Treat the stages as a starting point. Fast growers such as vegetable seedlings move up sooner than slow ornamentals.
How far should a plant move up at each repotting?
One size at a time is the safe rule. A pot far larger than the root ball holds wet mix that the roots cannot reach, and that is where root rot starts.
- Pot on when roots circle the inside wall or show at the drainage holes.
- Move to the next size in the table, for example 4 to 6 inch, then 6 to 8 inch.
- Fill with fresh mix to the same soil level the plant had before.
- Water through once and let the pot drain fully.
Choosing the right size for each stage keeps that work to the fewest moves a crop really needs.
Nursery Pots, Super or Sumo: what is the difference?
- Nursery Pots cover the early and middle stages in four sizes: 4.5, 5.5, 8 and 10 inch.
- Nursery Pots (Super) come in two sizes, 6 and 12 inch. The 12 inch is 9 inch tall, an inch deeper than the Sumo 12 inch.
- Sumo Nursery Pot is the widest range, eight sizes from 4 to 18 inch, and is described on its page as built for repeated use and outdoor conditions.
If you want one range from first potting to the largest size, Sumo covers every stage on its own. Our 4 inch nursery pots are in that range.
How are nursery pots packed?
Each size is sold in a fixed pack. The smallest sizes come 250 to a pack, and the count falls as the pot grows, down to 10 for the 18 inch. Order in whole packs and plan bench space by the pack count, not only the pot width.
Where can you order nursery pots?
Each range page lists its sizes, colours and pack quantities. See Nursery Pots, Nursery Pots (Super) and Sumo Nursery Pot, and tell us the crops and quantities you grow so we can suggest the sizes for each stage.