Transplanting is a virtual necessity for the backyard grower. Many of us live in an area that doesn't give enough growing days to do things otherwise. When transplanting we are taking a plant that has been raised in a controlled environment and putting it out into the world. Much like anything else it's going to need a lot of care for this transition. We're going to go over some of the basics for this now.
When
The proper timing varies greatly from plant to plant. If you're buying your plants from a nursery they are probably ready to be hardened off immediately. For plants grown from seed, most times the best reference is on the package. A few things to look at are the number of true leaves. There should generally be anywhere from 4-8 true leaves before you transplant. You'll have to coordinate this with the weather outside. For example, tomatoes cannot go out before the last frost.
Not only do we need to have the date right, the time of day is also important. On the day you want to transplant wake up, make breakfast, chill for a while, eat some lunch, go for a walk, read some of that book you've been into, and then right around 4pm get to business. Most people will want to do their transplanting first thing in the morning, when really the evening is best.
How
Before we take our plants out of their pots and put them in the ground we need to harden them off. The best way to do this is to put them outside for just a few hours on the first day, then add an hour each day for a few more days. Plants need an adjustment period for the leaves to get used to the extra sunlight and doing this will prevent your plants from getting fried. Once the plants appear to be taking the extra sun well they are ready.
Start by preparing your spot in the garden, get your hole dug and ready. Then loosen the transplant by squeezing your container to push the soil away from the edges. Then put the plant stem between your fingers and turn the pot upside down. With a little coaxing it should come right out. Next, check the root ball, if the roots are compacted along the edges then you might want to loosen them up a little by massaging them. The concern with the roots is that the growth pattern caused by the container can bind them and potentially kill the plant. If there aren't a lot of visible roots then plop it in the hole as it is and cover it up. Wait! Not too deep. Many plants have a point that leaves grow from, look for that and do not bury it. Usually you'll want the level to be the same as it was in the pot. Some exceptions to this are tomatoes and peppers, which send out roots along the stem if it is buried.
After the plants are successfully placed in their new home you'll need to give them plenty of water and some soluble nutrients, such as liquid fertilizer or fish emulsion. You could even give them a misting with a spray bottle. A little extra care can go a long way.
Which Plants
Most plants can be successfully transplanted with relative ease. Tomatoes, broccoli and lettuces to name a few. On the other hand some plants cannot have their roots disturbed, such as melons, and so transplanting these are very difficult. Likewise, any root crops are not going to do well in a confined container.
No comments:
Post a Comment