jackinthebox
Well-Known Member
Heres an article I just found that might help some of you newer growers if your moving your plants outdoors from indoors.
Transplanting Tips
Moving your plants from their cozy indoor home into the
wild outdoors is bound to be an adjustment for your plants.
But you can ease the transition by taking the time to prepare
your plants (and yourself) for the move. Here are some
guidelines to keep in mind:
1. Harden off the plants. Follow this sample routine:
The first day, set the flats or pots outdoors in partial shade,
protected from wind, for a couple of hours. Increase their time
outside by an hour or so a day for the next several days.
Then place the flats in full sun for a couple of hours. Over the
next few days, gradually increase the number of hours the
plants are left in the sun.
Once theyve grown accustomed to the full sun all day, leave
the plants outside overnight if theres no danger of frost. After about
10 days of hardening off, your plants should be ready for life outdoors.
2. Choose a cloudy day for transplanting, or transplant late
in the day. Bright sun can increase moisture loss from newly
planted transplants whose roots inevitably suffer some damage
during the process.
3. Soak the transplants with a dilute fish emulsion or seaweed
solution in their flats an hour before transplanting. This helps to
retain soil around the roots, makes the root mass easier to handle,
and applies a quick dose of soluble fertilizer.
4. Have everything ready before removing the plants from the
flats. Apply fertilizer in the furrow or in the holes, have all tools
at hand, etc.
5. Protect against cutworms. This is especially important for
tomatoes, peppers, and other veggies with tender stems.
These ground-level pests can chew completely through thin
stems. Cut strips of newspaper and wrap one around each
stem so that it extends an inch or two above the soil surface
to an inch or two below. The collars are easy to use and last
long enough for the stems to grow thick enough to discourage
cutworms. Avoid tight collars of plastic which can restrict the
stem growth.
6. Working quickly, cup the root ball in one hand as you remove
the transplant from its container, and tuck it into its home in the
garden. A smooth and speedy transition from flat to soil means
less of a shock to the plant. If you have to grasp part of the plant,
hold the leaves, not the stem. A plant wont survive if its stem is
crushed, but it can always grow new leaves if some are damaged.
7. Keep transplants watered. The heat and wind will increase
moisture loss, and the root systems of your plants are not
developed enough to withstand much moisture stress.
Q. How should I remove the transplants from their containers when
Im ready to plant them outside?
A. Turning the container upside-down and tapping on the bottom
sometimes loosens the soil ball from the sides of the container.
If this doesnt work, use a spoon or dull knife to pry up the soil ball
and place it in your hand.
Transplanting Tips
Moving your plants from their cozy indoor home into the
wild outdoors is bound to be an adjustment for your plants.
But you can ease the transition by taking the time to prepare
your plants (and yourself) for the move. Here are some
guidelines to keep in mind:
1. Harden off the plants. Follow this sample routine:
The first day, set the flats or pots outdoors in partial shade,
protected from wind, for a couple of hours. Increase their time
outside by an hour or so a day for the next several days.
Then place the flats in full sun for a couple of hours. Over the
next few days, gradually increase the number of hours the
plants are left in the sun.
Once theyve grown accustomed to the full sun all day, leave
the plants outside overnight if theres no danger of frost. After about
10 days of hardening off, your plants should be ready for life outdoors.
2. Choose a cloudy day for transplanting, or transplant late
in the day. Bright sun can increase moisture loss from newly
planted transplants whose roots inevitably suffer some damage
during the process.
3. Soak the transplants with a dilute fish emulsion or seaweed
solution in their flats an hour before transplanting. This helps to
retain soil around the roots, makes the root mass easier to handle,
and applies a quick dose of soluble fertilizer.
4. Have everything ready before removing the plants from the
flats. Apply fertilizer in the furrow or in the holes, have all tools
at hand, etc.
5. Protect against cutworms. This is especially important for
tomatoes, peppers, and other veggies with tender stems.
These ground-level pests can chew completely through thin
stems. Cut strips of newspaper and wrap one around each
stem so that it extends an inch or two above the soil surface
to an inch or two below. The collars are easy to use and last
long enough for the stems to grow thick enough to discourage
cutworms. Avoid tight collars of plastic which can restrict the
stem growth.
6. Working quickly, cup the root ball in one hand as you remove
the transplant from its container, and tuck it into its home in the
garden. A smooth and speedy transition from flat to soil means
less of a shock to the plant. If you have to grasp part of the plant,
hold the leaves, not the stem. A plant wont survive if its stem is
crushed, but it can always grow new leaves if some are damaged.
7. Keep transplants watered. The heat and wind will increase
moisture loss, and the root systems of your plants are not
developed enough to withstand much moisture stress.
Q. How should I remove the transplants from their containers when
Im ready to plant them outside?
A. Turning the container upside-down and tapping on the bottom
sometimes loosens the soil ball from the sides of the container.
If this doesnt work, use a spoon or dull knife to pry up the soil ball
and place it in your hand.
