Yeah ! The planting season is in full swing and you have mountain of seedlings to graft into your garden ? gravid intelligence , but … You may finish up with just a few , sometimes weak , and dissatisfactory veg if you are not deliberate . Inexperienced and unpaid gardeners may end up with empty plates , unless they correct some very common error when transpose your tomato , leeks or pepper … And these can be deadly – not for you though , for them …
Let ’s go through the5 most coarse and dangerous mistakesmost amateur gardener make when transplanting seedling in their garden , so , unlike them , you will have a liberal time of year of levelheaded and generous crops . Off we go !
Mistake Nr 1 – Leggy Seedlings
Planting a leggy seedling , with longsighted and slight base , can be a death condemnation for your little green friend , and in any case , it does not give it the good start in life in your garden ! If it wield to retrieve , you will still have a weak and underproductive grownup plant , so , the question is …
What is a leggy seedling ?
A leggy seedling is a small plant life that ’s too marvellous and spindly , rather than balanced , well - form and robust . parting are far too remote on the stalk , and the base itself is too slim and often deform . This is technically called“etiolation”,it is very common too , but what cause it ?
What causes leggy seedling ?
Leggy seedling have two main causes :
But now you know …
How can you avoid leggy seedlings?
First of all , if you are buying them – well , do n’t ! And if you have already purchased some , seek to get them stronger with these methods . If instead you raise them from seed , begin using these tips directly away !
Mistake Nr 2 – Transplanting Seedlings too Early
We are all eager to transplant our seedlings as early as potential , so we can get a longer harvest season , but it is wild , and it can be counterproductive . If the weather is still too dusty , you may lose them all !
To quash jumpstart your seedlings , you must ensure that you constitute each veggie salmagundi when it is safe , and , as a general rule , it ’s upright to await a couple of weeks on the safe side . In fact , even if temperatures have arrive at good stratum for your lettuce rather than eggplant or kale , the odd Robert Lee Frost or cold twenty-four hours may still pass off , especially in cooler climate zone .
you may get aplanting calendar , but you need to check that that it isspecific to your USDA hardiness zone . But there are also other direction to check that …
But there is another tool you may use , and it is called“phenology” … attend at which plants are bloom , and you will know which seedlings are good to transpose ! They know if the conditions is fine .
For example , if lilac are in full bloom , you’re able to establish crush , while tomatoes are safe to institute when lily of the valley is flower .
If you want to bonk more and have a more complete list , check out our article of phenology here !
Mistake Nr 3 – Overwatering Your Seedlings
Overwatering is one of the most common mistake inexperienced gardener make , also when it comes to seedling . venial because it is too much love life , butyou risk suffocating their ascendent !
Yes , becauseplant root also want O , and , if thesoil is packed with weewee , they ca n’t get it .
When you irrigate them ( before or after transplantation ) , thesoil must be moist , but not quaggy . You do n’t want it to be like “ mud ” . As an employment , water some soil till it gets humid , and squeeze it . You should only get a few drop-off out of it . If so , it still has air . But if it drops lots of water and easily , then it ’s not unspoiled at all .
What’s the best way to water seedlings?
OK , so , how can you water your seedlings so they have just enough water ?
Mistake Nr 4 – Transplanting Seedlings at the Wrong Time of Day
I realize the temptation to plant your seedling in the morning , but it ’s really the wrong tie of the day ! If you do , they will meet the heating of high noon , water supply will evaporate , and they will get a bigger transplantation shock absorber !
Instead , transplant your seedlings in the evening , when temperature are cool , and water does not evaporate as much . What ’s more , at night they “ sleep ” , their metabolism is slower , so , they have more time to acclimatize to their new “ household ” .
The onlyexceptionis if it ’s acool , cloudyand – even better – drizzling day . In this case , any tie is good .
Mistake Nr 5 – Not Hardening Your Seedlings Before Transplanting Them
Your seedlings have develop up in a sheltered and well-situated environs , with unfaltering temperature , humidness , light and no strong air current . If you move them outdoors , they are not quick fore these weather conditions , and this pay them blow .
This is particularly true in colder climate area . So , if you want to avoid thistransplant shock , you need toharden your seedlingsbeforehand .
So , move them outside picayune by trivial .
First , take them out in a part spook and sheltered position , for an hour or two , in the afternoon . Then a chip longer , and again , till you feel safe and they have harden enough to live in your vegetable garden without “ coming back indoors ” even at night .
This process can take some clip , and you only keep seedlings for a few weeks overall . So , bulge out early , with very short periods of time , so , when the day to transplant them comes , they will be quick and strong .
Treat Your Seedlings Well and Your Vegetable Garden Will Give You a Long and Bountiful Season of Healthy Crops
Transplanting seedlings is a delicate minute in their animation , because it is a shock for them . Avoid these five mistakes and you will give them and your vegetable garden , the best possible startle . And a net bakshish … After they have incite to their novel home , check that they become uncompromising rather than lank and protect them from blighter , snail and slugs , specially if they have tender leaf , and , if you want a few ideas on how , we have an clause for to aid you along …
indite By
Amber Noyes was born and raised in a suburban California town , San Mateo . She hold a master ’s degree in horticulture from the University of California as well as a atomic number 5 in Biology from the University of San Francisco . With experience working on an organic farm , water conservation research , farmers ’ market , and plant nursery , she understands what realize plants thrive and how we can well understand the connection between microclimate and plant health . When she ’s not on the land , Amber loves informing people of new idea / things refer to horticulture , specially organic gardening , houseplant , and growing plants in a small space .
