Transplanting annual seedlings outside can be a little tricky. Tammy Algood of the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service offers some tips to help you succeed. If your seedlings didn't get enough light, they may have become long and leggy. Water the seedlings before you transplant so that moist soil will cling to the roots. Once you've lifted a clump of plants from the flat, gently pull them apart. Use only the healthiest seedlings. Discard any that have less-than-perfect roots, stems or leaves. Don't hold seedlings by their stems, which are fragile. Support the plant by holding the roots and the leaves. Gently place the tiny plants into prepared peat pots full of potting soil. Water the pots by placing them in a tray filled with room-temperature water after tamping the soil into place around the roots. Use no fertilizer at this point. As soon as the young plants show new growth, fertilize them weekly with one-quarter strength fish emulsion. Once the seedlings begin to grow and develop healthy leaves, you can move the peat pots directly into the garden. For warm-season annuals, wait until the soil has warmed in spring. The plants' roots will grow right through the peat pots. If you decide to purchase annuals in cell packs, choose plants that are bright green, with evidence of new growth. Select plants that have buds in the developing stage rather than fully opened flowers, and pull a plant from the container to examine the roots: they should be white and not wound tightly in a ball.
GUESTS :
Tammy Algood
UT Agricultural Extension Service
5201 Marchant Drive
Nashville, TN 37211-5201
Phone: 615-834-5162
Fax: 615-832-0043
Email: Talgood1@utk.edu
Website: http://www.utextension.utk.edu
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