Module Overview
In this module you will become familiar with transplanting techniques, including identification of seedlings ready to transplant, watering and fertilizing of new transplants, and the hardening off procedure.
Learning Goals
After this module, learners will be able to:
- Describe the transplanting process.
- Identify when to transplant seedlings.
- Map out proper spacing of transplant seedlings.
- Demonstrate proper handling and be able to proper transplant seedlings.
- Demonstrate proper immediate care, including watering.
Roadmap
These items will all appear, in order, in the module.
- READ & WATCH: Introduction to Transplanting
Please click NEXT at the bottom of this page to advance through the module. To return to the list of modules, PC users click “Modules” in the top left corner, App users click the back arrow in the top left header.
Introduction to Transplanting
What is Transplanting?
Transplanting involves moving seedlings or small plants into larger pots or outside into a raised bed when they begin to get too large for their current growing space. Transplanting allows a plant to continue growing to maturation and keeps the seedling from becoming pot-bound. Pot-bound plants have excessive root growth and lack adequate soil to provide oxygen, nutrients, and water. They have a higher chance of failure when planting in the garden due to the stressed root system.
When and How to Transplant
When a seedling germinates, the first leaves to emerge are called seed leaves, or cotyledons. A monocot (monocotyledon) is a seedling with one seed leaf, like grass or onions. A dicot (dicotyledon) has two seed leaves, like kale, spinach, and lettuce. The leaves that emerge after the cotyledons are called true leaves. It is recommended to transplant seedlings after 2-3 true leaves emerge and you have good root growth in your pot.
When deciding to transplant your seedlings, you want to consider the weather, as some plants will struggle in colder temperatures. Never transplant if temperatures are less than 50 degrees F or if the ground is frozen or frosty.
You can make the transition smoother by putting the plants from the seed starting kit outside for a few hours at a time per day for a week leading up to the transplant. This process is called hardening off. This will help get the plants acclimate to the outdoor temperatures before they are moved outdoors permanently.
Watch the following video to learn more about the process of hardening off.
(1 minute, 2 seconds)
Video Transcript: Hardening off
Once you are ready to transplant, prepare the transplanting site by smoothing out the soil, removing any rocks or plant debris, moistening the soil, and fertilizing as recommended. Water the plants in your seed starting kit before transplanting as well.
Start digging holes for your plants, making them slightly larger and deeper than the pot the seedling is currently in. Each hole should be spaced appropriately, allowing enough space for your seedlings to thrive according to the directions on the seed packet. Remove the seedling, soil and all, from the pot and place it in the hole. Then cover all the roots with soil. Once all of the seedlings have been transplanted make sure you water your raised bed and each plant around its base. Use fertilizer per the directions on the package.
For an audiovisual description of the transplanting process, watch the following video.
(2 minutes, 37 seconds)
Watch this video on YouTube to access a full text transcript.
Please click NEXT at the bottom of this page to advance through the module. To return to the list of modules, PC users click “Modules” in the top left corner, App users click the back arrow in the top left header.
