7 Tips for Transplanting Seedlings into the Garden

So you've started your vegetables, herbs, and/or flowers from seed indoors, and the seedlings are happy and healthy. You might be interested in planting them in your garden, but wait, they are not ready for it. not yet. The most important step in successfully starting plants indoors—and one often overlooked by novice gardeners—is gradually acclimating them to their outdoor environment, a process known as "hardening off." This requires close attention to the dramatic change in conditions your seedlings are about to experience. It takes some effort, but only for a few weeks.

Look at it from your plants' point of view: they are growing in a comfortable, stable environment with the same temperature, regular watering, bright (but not too intense) light, and no wind. All that is about to change. If you want your seedlings to thrive in your garden, they must be gradually introduced to variations in outdoor conditions.

In order to avoid damage due to natural fluctuations in temperature, light, water, and wind movement, your seedlings must develop a strict protective cut and sturdy stems; It requires some time and patience. If you skip this important step, your young plants will suffer shock. These tips will help you maximize the successful transition of your seedlings to your garden.

1. Know when to harden off seedlings.

The best time to start moving your seedlings indoors will vary slightly depending on the crop. Cool-season vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli and hardy annuals and herbs such as calendula, marigolds, and pansies can begin the hardening-off process at night when temperatures reach 45°F. For warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc.) and more tender herbs and flowers, wait until nighttime temperatures are in the upper 50s.

2. Introduce seedlings to releases gradually.

When the temperature is suitable, take the seedlings out for two hours on the first day and bring them in at night. The next day, increase the outdoor time by an hour or two and continue in this manner for a week or two. Pay attention to the appearance of your seedlings. If they appear stressed, reduce their outdoor exposure. If they tolerate being outside all day, leave them out overnight.

3. Select a protected location.

A location in a flat shade helps seedlings adjust to more intense light from direct sunlight. During the hardening-off period, you can gradually expose them to more sunlight, but don't move the seedlings directly indoors to full sun. This can cause leaf scorch and stunted growth or even death. Wind can also cause severe damage, so place your seedlings in a spot protected from light winds. A box with sides that deflect strong air currents works well. A cold frame is a great tool for hardening off seedlings because its sides protect the plants from wind and a semi-translucent row cover can be used to shade them from direct sunlight.

4. Water the seedlings.

Check the seedlings regularly; If it's sunny and warm, check them at least twice a day. Keep them moist but not saturated and make sure their pots have drainage holes. If the seedlings get soaked in sudden rain and the growing medium does not drain well, the plants are likely to rot. And heavy rain can break the fragile stems. If a severe storm is in your forecast, it's best to bring plants indoors or onto a garage or covered porch.

5. Slowly increase exposure to garden conditions.

Once your young plants get used to being outside, they will develop a hard top that will provide more protection from the elements. Now is the time to move them to a site with more exposure to sun and wind. I like to move the potted seedlings into the garden area where they will grow and give them a couple of days to acclimate to the site before placing them in the ground or garden.

6. Transfer on a calm cloudy day.

Planting when bright sunlight is tempered by clouds reduces stress on your young plants. Dig holes larger than your seedling growing pot, plant your seedlings in the prepared soil, and tamp them down firmly. Dou. Water well. Use plant covers or some form of barrier to protect them if the wind blows. Large inverted plastic pots can also provide temporary shelter.

7. Check the weather.

Be aware of sudden drops in temperature or heavy rainfall during the first few weeks your plants are in the ground. Plant protection caps, inverted pots, or floating row covers can help them survive late-season frosts or damaging storms.

While the process of transitioning from indoors to the garden may seem like a nice problem to have, it's a very important one. Not taking the time to help your seedlings acclimate to their outdoor environment can lead to serious disappointment – your plants may stunt or die. You've already spent a lot of time and energy caring for your seedlings indoors, and gradually hardening them off is the next step in the process. Then you and your plants will be ready to plant in your garden, where they will reward you with healthy, strong growth all season long.