| Transplanting seedlings is one of my favourite | | | | that the roots will be exposed (drying out). |
| tasks in the garden. There are a few simple | | | | Fill each hole with water. This supplies moisture to |
| things to consider to give your young plants the | | | | the plant's root zone rather than the surface |
| best chance to flourish - you want them to | | | | where it may quickly evaporate. Gently ease the |
| thrive, rather than just survive. | | | | first plant from its container, working from the |
| Timing | | | | bottom and sides to loosen it. Don't try and pull it |
| Think about the time of year. Just because | | | | from the container by its stem - you may |
| certain seedlings are available at your nursery, | | | | damage it. Only handle these young plants by their |
| don't assume it's the right time to plant them out. | | | | individual leaves or by the root ball. Keeping the |
| If you're not sure, read the label - most tell you | | | | rootball intact will help prevent transplant stress, |
| the best time of year to plant. You could look in | | | | but gently tease the roots to loosen them. |
| gardening books, research online or ask family or | | | | Place the plant into the ground at about the same |
| friends who are gardeners (they might even give | | | | level that it was growing in its container. Backfill |
| you some seedlings if they've bought too many). | | | | the hole until it is almost level with the soil. I like to |
| You can plant tender plants before the risk of late | | | | add some organic fertilizer at this stage, to give |
| frosts has passed, provided you listen closely to | | | | my 'babies' a head start. Just use a small amount |
| weather forecasts and are prepared to cover | | | | - you can add more later. Finish backfilling, pressing |
| your 'babies' with protection or enclose them in a | | | | the soil lightly around the roots to ensure good |
| cloche. | | | | soil-to-root contact. |
| Hardening Off | | | | Water them in well, avoiding overhead watering, |
| If you've grown your seedlings from seed you | | | | immediately after transplanting. Water daily for |
| probably know to harden them off before | | | | about a week until seedlings are well established. |
| planting. But if you're buying them from a nursery | | | | Bring mulch around the plant, leaving about a |
| take a look at where they've been living. Have | | | | 10cm (4inch) diameter clear around each plant. |
| they been in a glass-house, under shade or | | | | Other things to consider |
| exposed to the weather? If you seedlings have | | | | Avoid transplanting vegetable seedlings when the |
| been grown outside exposed to the weather, | | | | weather is expected to be excessively hot. If you |
| they won't need hardening off. But if they've | | | | can, choose a day that is cloudy or transplant late |
| been pampered, they'll need a bit of toughening up | | | | in the afternoon or evening so that your plants |
| to prepare them for the real world. | | | | can recover through the cool of the night, without |
| To harden off your seedlings you need to leave | | | | sunlight beating down on them. If you can't do this |
| them outdoors for a longer time each day. | | | | it's a good idea to provide some temporary |
| Protect them under a porch or behind shade-cloth, | | | | shade, particularly in hot weather. |
| bringing them indoors at night for the first few | | | | An initial watering with an organic seaweed |
| days. After a couple of days, you can expose | | | | fertilizer will provide a wide range of nutrients and |
| them to the morning sun. At the end of a week, | | | | help reduce stress on your young seedlings. |
| they'll be tough enough to transplant to their | | | | Get all your equipment ready before you start - |
| permanent plot. | | | | hand trowel, gardening gloves, kneeling pad, your |
| Planting Out | | | | water bottle and hat. |
| The garden bed they are being planted in should | | | | Tomatoes are an exception to the rule as far as |
| already have been prepared with layers of organic | | | | planting depth goes. You can plant them right |
| matter, compost and mulch. Water seedlings | | | | down to the first set of true leaves. They will |
| 10-15 minutes before planting out. | | | | grow new roots right up to the soil level, making |
| Before removing seedlings from their containers, | | | | them more sturdy. |
| arrange them where they will be planted. When | | | | Seedlings from the Cucumber family (cucumbers, |
| you're happy with the arrangement, use a trowel | | | | squash, pumpkins, melons) do better planted in |
| to dig a hole about twice the size of the rootball. | | | | hills. This allows for better drainage and warms |
| Doing this prep work reduces the length of time | | | | their soil to give them a better start. |