Transplanting Vegetables

Start Indoors

Before we get to transplanting vegetables, there are few things to consider: primarily, why it's best to start vegetable plants indoors. Several reasons exist for raising seedlings indoors before transplanting them to the garden. The following are some suggestions to keep in mind.

* Seeding indoors to raise transplants conserves seeds.
* There is a higher germination rate, and more high-quality plants can be produced in a greenhouse under controlled environmental conditions.
* Starting seeds indoors extends the growing season. This is important for early yields, since plants can be ready to set out immediately after reasonable risk of frost is past. Earlier harvest is more attainable by using transplants than by direct seeding in the garden.
* Since any variety of seed can be ordered for transplant production, a grower has a much wider selection of varieties.
* The choice of varieties for available transplants is limited to the most popular varieties.

Why transplant?

Transplanting is easy to do and can be enjoyable. It can even be a money-maker for you, and it offers several advantages over buying commercially produced plants.

* Plants are available when you need them, so you don't have to wait for commercial plants to become available.
* There is less danger of getting diseased plants if you follow a few simple precautions.
* You can produce newer varieties not yet available from commercial plant growers.
* You can be sure of getting the variety you want.
* Home-produced transplants grow better after being set in the garden, because they are fresher.

Vegetables to transplant

Tomatoes, peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, eggplant, collards, cabbage and onions are usually started from transplants. If you want watermelons, cantaloupes, cucumbers, squash and other vegetables to yield earlier, you can start them indoors in peat pots.

Containers to consider

Depending on what works best for you, you'll want to consider what container to use when transplanting vegetables. The following is a description of container types and functions.

* Seed flats can be built at home out of thin, sturdy boards or purchased at supply stores. The main advantage of using flats is that more plants can fit into the same space if plants are in flats. However, if you start seeds in flats, you will need to transplant to larger cell packs or to individual pots as the seedlings get bigger.
* Peat pellets are made of compressed sphagnum peat moss contained in mesh, a pellet expands when water is applied, making the peat pot with soil ready to receive the plant or seed.
* Peat cubes are made of mesh and compressed peat moss, cubes are already expanded to receive the plant or seed.
* Peat pots are made of peat moss and other fiber, pots must be filled with soil or growth medium before seed or plants are placed in them.

Time to transplant

Tomatoes, pepper, eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage are usually started in seed flats then transplanted to pots so the plants have more room to develop.

Lift the plants from the seed flat when they have developed their first true leaves. Gently pry the plant up as it is being pulled to help prevent breaking the roots. Handle the plant by the leaves, not the stem. If a leaf should break, it will grow back; if you mash the stem, it will interfere with the nutrient transport system and the plant will never recover.

Water the plants after transplanting, being careful not to knock the plants down with a coarse stream of water. A single fine stream of water directed at the base of the plant is better than sprinkling water over the top.

Original article from Plancare.com