Managing transplants to the garden

After planting your seeds, the seedlings start growing and then it's time to move them from their pots to the ground, but, how to do it successfully? 

 

Moving the plants from the pots, tray or container where you planted them, is one of the most stressful times for the plants, and because of this, it's the time when many seedlings can dry and die after being transplanted. Why? just imagine being in a perfect environment with good temperature, water, not drafts or cold temperatures at night, just the perfect environment, and then suddenly moving to a totally different environment where it can be hot sun light for hours and then cold hours at night, rain, microorganisms, different soil... this is a stressful change, isn't it?

This procedure of managing seedlings to the garden is called "Hardening off".

Hardening off your seedlings:

Hardening off is just moving your seedlings outdoors, but gradually, to avoid a transplant shock. Here is a way that you can harden off your seedlings successfully:

1. While plants are indoors, stems are not used to the wind, this weak stems can be easily damaged by wind or movement, so, you can move your plants (gently) every other time, or put a fan close to them for few minutes. 
2. First week: take the tray/container with the seedlings outside, under a protected location (not direct sun light), first day 1 hour, second day 2 hours, third day 3 hours... adding an hour every day. At the end of this week your seedlings have been acclimated 7 hours per day.
3. Now your plants are ready to be transplanted. 
4. Make sure to keep them moist, but take in mind that seedlings can be susceptible when there's too much or too little water. 

This looks like a lot of work, but it's easier than you think, and if you forget to take them out one day you can continue next day, 

After long time for seeds to germinate, growing seedlings, it is very important to take care of your plants in the process of taking them out (hardening off), this is worthy when you continue seeing them growing and producing delicious and healthy vegetables for you to enjoy. 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Would you like to learn more about this or another topic? Do you have questions or concerns about agriculture or would you like to have an event related to this topics? Don't hesitate to contact us, our team of professionals and master gardener volunteers will be happy to assist you.

Last updated December 20, 2023