Transplant time is here!

Ok, are you ready?  Gather your materials:  bag of soil-less mix, cups, drill (or other device) to make holes in cups, plastic bin for the mix, small trowel, water, and bins to hold the cups later (optional).

First thing is to put a small diameter drill bit into your drill.  Grab a stack of cups, say 10 or so and flip them over so they are bottom side up on a clean surface.  Now make 3 holes through all of the cups in the stack.  If you don't have a drill, then you might punch the holes with a nail or other pointy thing.  Just be careful not to put a hole in YOU!!

Repeat until all the cups have 3 holes.  The holes will be for drainage, or preferably if you use the bins, then they will soak UP water.  I prefer to bottom water and let the plant take what it needs.  So the picture shows how it looks.  It's not necessary to make them perfectly spaced.

Now, one by one, we will take a cup and add about an inch of mix in the bottom.  This is necessary so that the roots that will be displaced won't be sitting on plastic.

Now we will select our first seedling from the trays.  I work on ONE variety at a time so as to insure I don't mix them up.  Using a 'sharpie' marker, mark the cup with the variety.  Lift the tray so you can get at the underside.  Grab one of the cells and kind of squeeze it gently, in both directions, as in the picture on the left.  If the roots are sticking out as shown on the right, then gather them together directly under the hole and, inserting your finger, push up on the soil while GENTLY pulling the plant with your other hand.  You may have to repeat that a couple of times to get it to co-operate.

Before you place the seedling in the cup, try and pull apart the rootball a bit because if you leave it the roots will tend to just circle around as they have been.  I liken untangling the roots to untanglind a gold necklace.  Gently.  Don't worry if you break a couple of roots, but minmize breakage.  Now set the seedling on top of the bit of mix you put in the cup.  Holding the plant in the center with your fingers, trowel some mix into the cup until you are almost up to the first leaves.  If you look closely at the stem, you will see a bunch of 'hairs'.  These will become roots if you bury the stem.  With your thumb and forefingernails, 'pinch' off the first leaves.  Add more mix until you almost fill the cup. 

Repeat for the rest of your little ones.  When all have been inserted into their cups, arrange the cups into a plastic bin (or just line them up).  GENTLY add a small amount of water to the top of the cup to settle the mix around the roots.  You may continue to water this way, but I prefer to add water to a binfull of cups.  After a half hour, there should be no more water in the bin.  After a few tries you will know how much water to add to the bin.  Keep the bin in the same light situation you have been.  If you are going to bring the babies OUTSIDE....please remember that they can and WILL sunburn like we do.  They haven't experienced raw sun, so if you do bring them out, don't let them have full sun for more than 15 minutes the first time.  Extend the time each time they are out, and after they have seen full sun for an hour they should be ready for full sun anytime.  Keep the mix MOIST...not soggy.  They will be in the cups for the next 2 weeks at least here in zone 6 Connecticut.

Transplanting outside will not be until May 15th (our average last  frost date).  Come back then for more info.  In the mean time, there will be more postings and of course we'd love to answer any of your questions! 

Until next time, Happy Gardening!!