Transplanting

• Transplanting

Most vegetable transplant well. Exceptions include those with long tap roots like carrots, parsley, and cilantro, and also potatoes and corn, which should be sown directly outdoors where they will mature.Choose plants in 6-packs and 4” pots. The small plants will quickly catch up. Larger container plants take longer to settle into their new homes and usually don’t bear as prolifically.

To transplant all vegetables except tomatoes:

• Handle small seedlings by their leaves, not their delicate stems.

• Plant seedlings at the same depth they grew in their containers.

For tomatoes:

• Pinch off all but the top several leaves of the plant.

• Dig hole deep enough to plant tomato up to its top leaves.

• Plants will develop roots all along their stems.

 For all plants including tomatoes:

• Dig a hole at least 2 inches wider and deeper than the rootball.

• Gently loosen up the outer soil and roots on the rootball to stimulate new growth.

• Firm the soil gently around the plant.

• Water plant 3 times to fully saturate the rootball and surrounding soil. When the first

  water is absorbed, repeat twice more to thoroughly moisten the surrounding soil.

• Provide shade against the late-afternoon sun for about a week.

• Water deeply every other day for about a week.

• After that, water once or twice a week as necessary depending on the weather.

• Every two weeks, fertilize with mild, water-soluble fertilizer such as fish emulsion.