| Greenhouse Advice |
| Joe Lamp'l shares valuable hands-on advice for greenhouse gardeners |
From "Fresh from the Garden"
episode DFFG-304 |
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Here are some more hints that will come in handy when it's time to transplant seedlings.
Transplanting should be done only after the plant has sprouted and shed its first leaves, called the seed leaves. They feed the developing plant and will turn yellow and fall off on their own. The true leaves, which look different, will follow and signal the right time for transplanting (figure F).A plastic knife or a pencil can be used to dig right next to the seedling. Pull and hold the seedling by the leaf, not the stem (figure G). Use the knife to make a new hole in a larger pot or garden bed and plant the seedling. Firm up the soil around the stem and be sure it sits at the same depth in the soil that it was during germination. Mist the seedling with water.
Germination mix (figure H, left), which is very fine and holds water, is best for starting seedlings. Upon transplanting, use potting mix (figure H, right), which is looser.Plants can also be started from a cutting of an existing plant. Cut a tip, about 3" to 5", as long as it's not absolutely new growth. Pinch off any flower buds and remove any large leaves from the lower part of the stem. Dip the stem in rooting hormone and then plant in a contained mixture of two parts sand to one part peat moss. The cutting is ready to transplant when it develops its own roots and begins to anchor itself in the soil.
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