Transplanting is the process of moving a plant from one growing medium to another and nurturing seedlings in a safe environment.
Transplanting is a delicate process but offers so many benefits to farmers. Seedlings are the easiest and most common way of starting a vegetable farm, they are the germinated stage of a seed.
Conditions
The appropriate time to transplant your seedlings depend on the development of true leaves as opposed to early leaves known as cotyledon. Before transplanting make sure the soil is of good quality and should be able to hold moisture.
Transplant seedlings in the late afternoon to help the plant recover during transplanting.
Hardening off
This is where you begin to introduce the seedlings to their future and permanent environment. It is a critical step towards the success of your plant.
Seedlings need time to adjust to their new environment before being transplanted. Over the course of one to two weeks, allow them get used to the outdoor environment.
Transplanting
Use a hoe, spade or trowel to make a small hole in your garden for each seedling. Make holes as deep as the plant roots. Keep the root mass and soil intact. Always maintain any attached soil and don‘t cut out the plant by its stem.
Place the plant into the hole and fill the remaining space with the nutrient rich soil you dug out. Drench the soil surrounding the plant with water to allow the roots reach out to the nutrients.
Transplant shock
If the plant starts to wilt, scorch or turn yellow shade them from long hours of direct sunlight.
