Gardening Tips On Transplanting Seedlings
by
Jemma
4 Materials
$25
7 Days
Medium
Welcome to the second segment in our series of Vegetable gardening for beginners. As we continue our series in discovering how to become a successful gardener, we are going to learn the importance of how, when and why to "Harden Off" our seedlings before planting them in our garden plots. So before we grab that shovel and put those tender seedling directly outdoors, let me show you how to transplant for Success.
THE WHEN:
You may be wondering when will you know when it is time for your seedlings to be transplanted. Well the general rule of thumb is this.
The best way to decided if your seedlings are large enough to plant in your garden is to look at the number of true leaves.
When a seedling has three to four true leaves, it is large enough to plant out in the garden after it has been "hardened off."
HARDENING OFF
As a gardener you may have heard the term hardening off your seedlings. This is a process that is done over a 7-10 day period of time so that seedlings become accustomed to strong sunlight, cool nights and less-frequent watering.
THE WHY:
When growing plants from seeds, we want them to be well prepared to thrive outside. By practicing these good gardening methods it will help to insure that our seedlings grow into beautiful plants that will provide us with a bounty of delicious vegetables or flowers.
THE HOW:
Once the danger of frost has passed it is time to move seedlings outside. But before that can take place they must be Hardened Off.
- Last week before moving seedlings outdoors withhold fertilizer and water less often.
- 7-10 days before transplanting, set seedlings outdoors in dappled shade and protected from the wind for a few hours each day.
- Gradually increase exposure to sunshine and windy conditions.
- Do not allow soil to dry out.
- Transplant seedlings that have three to four true leaves.
- Plant in well-aerated soil
- Soak soil around seedlings immediately after transplanting
- Add mulch to retain moisture and help with weed control
- Keep soil moist until transplants have established a good root system
- Add a root stimulator (phosphorus)
By following these valuable and trusted gardening guidelines you too will soon have a thriving vegetable garden and enjoy the bounty of your hard work! For more tips on gardening please visit my blog too.
Thank you for joining me today.
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2 of 8 comments
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Lol... me neither...be assured I will not do it again! It just struck me as funny!
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Lol...I didn’t even read the article! How funny!
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