7 Tips For Transplanting Seedlings Into The Garden

Learn how and when to transfer seeds you've started from your garden to your outdoor garden.

So you start vegetables, herbs and/or flowers from home grown seeds and the seedlings will look happy and healthy. You can't wait to plant them in your yard, but wait, they're not ready yet. Not yet. The most important step in successfully starting houseplants, often overlooked by new gardeners, is gradually acclimating them to their outdoor environment, a process known as "hardening off." It requires a lot of attention for fairly drastic changes in the conditions in which your seedlings will live. It takes some effort, but only a few weeks.

Look at it from the perspective of your plants. they thrive in a comfortable, stable environment with even temperatures, regular watering, bright (but not too strong) light, and no drafts. It will change. If you want your seedlings to flourish in your garden, they must be gradually introduced to the strange outdoor conditions.

To adapt to natural fluctuations in temperature, light, water and air movement without damage, your seedlings must develop stronger protective cuticles and stronger stems; it takes time and some patience. If you skip this important step, your young seedlings will be in shock from which they will never recover. These tips will help maximize your seedlings' successful transition to the garden.

1. Know when to harden off seedlings.

The best time to move seedlings indoors varies slightly between plants. For winter greens like kale and broccoli, and hardy annuals like daffodils, marigolds, and pansies, you can start the hardening off process when nighttime temperatures reach 45°F. For warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc.) and milder herbs and flowers, expect nighttime temperatures to rise into the 50s.

2. Gradually place the seedlings outdoors.

If the temperature is suitable, keep the seedlings outside for a few hours on the first day and bring them inside overnight. The next day, increase the time spent in the open air by one to two hours, continuing in this way for several weeks. Pay attention to the appearance of your seedlings. If they seem to be highlighted, slow down the outdoor exposure. Leave them outside overnight as they tolerate being outside all day.

3. Choose a protected location.

The pale shade helps the seedlings adapt to more intense sunlight. During the hardening off period, you can gradually move them to more sun, but never move the seedlings directly inside into full sun. This will cause the leaves to burn and may result in stunted growth or even death. Wind can also cause serious damage, so place your seedlings in an area protected from strong winds. A box with sides to deflect strong winds works well. A cold frame is a great tool for compressing seedlings, as the sides protect the plants from the wind, and you can use a translucent cover to protect them from direct sunlight.

4. Keep the seedlings moist.

regularly check the seedlings; check at least twice a day if the weather is sunny and warm. Keep moist but not wet and make sure your pot has drainage holes. Sudden rain can water the seedlings, and if the field is not drained properly, the plants are more likely to rot. And heavy rains can break the fragile stems. If a strong storm is expected, it is better to take the plants to a covered porch or garage.

5. Gradually increase exposure to garden conditions.

As your new plants get used to being outside, they will develop stronger cuticles that will further protect them from the elements. Now is the time to move them to a place with more sun and wind. I like to move my seedlings to an area of the garden where they will grow and give them a few days to acclimate to the soil before transplanting them into soil or pots.

6. Transplant on a calm, cloudy day.

Transplanting reduces stress on young plants when sunlight is blocked by clouds. Dig a hole larger than the pot your seedling is growing in, place it in the prepared soil and level it firmly. Very nice. If the wind is strong, use vegetation or some kind of deflector to protect it. A large overturned plastic container can also provide temporary shelter.

7. Pay attention to the weather.

Beware of sudden temperature drops or heavy rain during the first few weeks your plants are in the ground. Plant shade covers, inverted pots, or floating row covers to help them survive damaging frosts or storms.

Although the process of transitioning from home to garden may seem difficult, it is nevertheless very important. If you don't take the time to help your seedlings adapt to the outside environment, it will lead to great disappointment. your plants may fail to thrive or even die. You've spent a lot of time and energy caring for your seedlings indoors, and gradually establishing them is the next step in the process. Then you and your plants are ready to move into your garden, where you'll be rewarded with strong, healthy growth all season long.