It's natural for plants to
go into shock when transplanted from indoors to the outdoors garden. To prevent
undue shock and for a quicker plant recovery, check out these tips —
Harden Off
Gradually expose your starts to the cooler temperatures over a period of
1-2 weeks before transplanting to the garden. Move them outside to a cold
frame, cloche, under a row cover, or to a protected area. Uncover them a
little more each day, protecting them again each night from the cold until
they gradually adapt.
Prepare Soil
For best results, create a loose bed, 6-8 inches deep, of soil rich in
organic material. The soil you grow your plants in makes a major
difference in your success. I prefer to use a prepared mix that is
sterile, lightweight and has uniform texture. Look for a quality mix at
your local, independent nursery center.
When To Transplant
When the ground has warmed up and good weather is consistent, pick a
cloudy day or late in the afternoon to transplant so the sun won't cause
excess wilting. The night before, water both your transplants and the
garden soil well.
Plant Spacing
For the most efficient use of your space, plan and mark off your rows and
individual plant spacing. Traditionally, gardeners do this with string, a
yardstick and a favorite hand tool with a sharp edge.
TIP
A brand new ingenious planting tool, the Smart Stik, now makes this job much easier. It's packed
with handy information written right on it for best success. Take it right to
the garden with you. With its quality craftsmanship, it's sure to become a
family heirloom to hand down to your future gardeners!
Pot Removal
Remove a small transplant from its container by turning the pot upside
down. Let the plant stem pass between your second and third fingers while
tapping on the bottom of the pot or rapping the edge slightly. Hold the
plant carefully in your hand while supporting its root system with the
palm of your other hand. Caution - any leaf or stem broken will set
back the plant's recovery.
Dig and Plant
Dig a hole about two times the size of the root-ball so the roots aren't
crowded and can reach water readily. Set the transplant into the hole.
Press soil firmly around its roots. Make a saucer of soil around the base
of the stem to hold water and funnel it to the roots.
Water Immediately
Keep a water can handy filled with sun warmed water. As soon as you've
planted a start, water it. Water daily until plants are established. If
they wilt, mist or shade them for a few days.
TIP
Adding SuperThrive or a diluted organic seaweed fertilizer to the
water will help reduce transplant shock and make your starts stronger, quicker.
Plant Protection Covers It's a good idea to protect
young seedlings and transplants by some means. Hot caps, domes, cloches
are all options. Crop covers made from polypropylene are a classic
standard.
They
Keep heat in, protecting starts from cold and wind.
Act as a barrier to insects and birds.
Allow rain to reach plants and soil.
After you've seeded or transplanted your
starts into the garden, place the protection cover directly over them on the
ground or drape it over our fiberglass support rods or PVC pipe supports.
To hold your covering to PVC pipe, Snap Clamps are a customer favorite.Anchor
the edges of the fabric with Ground Staples or by mounding soil or rocks to keep it in
place. This will also extend the cover's life.
Raise the cover on a regular schedule to water, feed, and thin. After your
plants have adapted and weather is consistently warmer, remove the protection
cover, fold it up and reuse in the fall to extend your harvest.
