How to Transplant Seedlings

Whether you grow your fledgling plants from seed or buy them at the nursery, extra care at planting time will get them off to a good start in your garden.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lath Or Lattice Panels
• Cloches
• Garden Hoses
• Organic Matter
• Plants
• Stock Seedlings
• Watering Cans
• Organic Matter
• Plants

1. Double-check the planting date on the seed packet, in a comprehensive garden book or on the plastic tag stuck into the soil (for plants you bought at a nursery). You must hold off planting most flowers and vegetables until all danger of frost has passed. Some cold-tolerant varieties such as cauliflower can go into the ground a bit earlier; heat lovers such as tomatoes should wait until the ground has thoroughly warmed up.

2. Prepare the planting bed. Use a spade or spading fork to work the soil to a depth of 10 to 12 inches; incorporate organic matter as needed.

3. 'Harden off' your seedlings by leaving them outdoors for longer and longer periods. Start by sheltering the young plants under a porch or bench by day, then bringing them back in by night or during inclement weather. After two or three days, you can safely keep them in the sun for half a day. By the end of a week, they'll be tough enough to soak up the rays all day.

4. If you can, transplant the seedlings to the garden on an overcast day to ease the shock of transition from pot to ground. If a light mist is falling, so much the better. Water both the outside ground and the plants before you move them into the garden.

5. Remove each plant from its pot by turning it upside down and tapping lightly on the bottom; it will slide out easily. Gently run your fingers through the roots to loosen them a little.

6. Use a trowel to dig a hole about twice the size of the rootball and set the plant into the hole so the rootball will be covered by about 1/4 inch of soil. Press the soil firmly around the roots to ensure good soil-to-root contact.

7. Space the plants according to the directions.

8. Water well immediately after transplanting and again every day until the plants are well established and growing - usually within a week. If some plants show signs of wilting, shield them with a lath screen or a piece of lattice until they perk up, which shouldn't take more than a few days.

Tips & Warnings

• If the plant has been growing in a peat pot, break away a few pieces from the bottom or sides so the roots won't be confined, and loosen the soil a little with your fingers.
• If you live where late frosts can hit unexpectedly, be prepared to protect your tender seedlings. When the weather forecast predicts low temperatures, cover them with Styrofoam cups, plastic milk jugs with the tops cut off or one of several commercial products made for the purpose. Or invest in some cloches. These beautiful, bell-shaped glass covers have been used for centuries to shield tender plants from sudden cold snaps or simply to prolong the growing season.

on 11/22/2005 Once your seeds have grown to about 6-8 inches, you can cut a couple "branches" off. Then place the "branches" in a glass of water. Eventually, roots will appear. When they look strong, they can be tranplanted to moist potting soil and then to the garden.

on 11/22/2005 Whether you are transplanting seedlings or planting starters bought from the store, a good way to ensure strong roots is to cover all but the top two to four inches of the plant in the ground. The buried stem will develop roots.