Like all living things that are nurtured and cared for, your seedlings will grow. At some point, they’ll need more space to grow. If you’ve planted your seeds in sizable pots to begin with, you may not need to move them, however, if you have planted them first in smaller seed starting pots, they’ll most likely need to be moved to bigger pots.
Transplanting before your plants are ready to go into the ground is necessary so they don’t get rootbound and stressed. Seedlings are pretty hardy for their small size. They’ll bounce back after they’re transplanted, just be sure to continue to give them good care.
When are your seedlings ready to transplant?
Your seedlings will be ready to transplant when they look too big for their containers or you can see their roots making their way out of the bottom. The transplant process is easy and can be done with a knife.
Fill the larger pots halfway with soil. Take your knife and cut around your seedling container. The important part is to pick your seedling up by its leaves, not the stem. It may seem counter-intuitive to do this because a stem seems much stronger than the leaves. However, if leaves are damaged, they can recover much more easily. A damaged stem can inhibit the growth of the plant.
Take the seedling leaves in between your pointer finger and thumb, and with the knife gently guide the seedling’s root ball out of the flat and into your pot. Fill the pot the rest of the way up with soil, tamping it down very gently to help the seedling feel secure in its new home.
You're done!
And there you have it! A newly planted seedling waiting for its next move — into the garden. Continue to water, feed, and love your seedlings and you will have started your garden off right this season.
Check out our website www.thetiltedwhale.com for all of your gardening needs!
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