Do this after the seedlings have their first true set of leaves and a good developing root system. Fighting the Urge to Plant the Garden NOW! Next, you can transplant your lettuce plant to a 5 Gallon Nursery Pot. Your pots can be actual nursery pots, yogurt cups, paper or plastic cups, almost any clean container as long as you have put drain holes in the bottom. It’s been 4 weeks since I planted my tomato seeds and they are looking awesome! Transplanting lettuce within the garden or indoors is a fairly delicate process that requires attention and care. 9. Finally, it’s time to transplant! A root bound-plant is not a happy plant. When you plant a seed, the first leaves to emerge are the cotyledons. However, since you have many healthy plants, it would be wise to transplant them each to individual pots. Jellies and jams were made after harvesting crabapples from my Grandmother’s front yard, and rhubarb and quince from our own yard. I wanted to give the plant to my grandmother, who loves gardening, for Christmas so she can have a homemade salad to go with her homemade dressing. The process of transplanting is defined by moving or replanting a plant from one location to another. You should be transplanting seedlings into containers that are 2 to 3 inches larger than the cell or container they were started in. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases made through affiliate links. After Transplant Care. Larger seedlings are best grown on in pots rather than plugs before transplanting ... Cool-season crops like lettuce, onions, beets or peas can go straight outside as soon as the ground is ready, meaning that the soil is no longer cold and wet, and has reached around 50ºF (10ºC). Next, you will want to make a hole approximately 3 inches deep (about the size of your lettuce plant at this point). Make sure to transplant only when you plant has at least 3-4 leaves and the danger of frost outside is over. With cubes, you can see roots poking out telling you it’s time to pot up. When do you know your seedlings need to be moved into larger pots? The minimal acceptable temperature is 7.2 degrees Celsius (45 degrees Fahrenheit). If you thin them to roughly one plant per pot, they will do just fine. Seedling is about the right height in pot. Water the seedlings a few hours before you transplant them, so that the stems and leaves are turgid and the growing mix will stick to and protect the roots. ... Can I Start My Plants in a Big Pot Instead of a Seedling Tray? Don’t bury it any deeper than it was in the original container. A root bound-plant is not a happy plant. Transplant them about four weeks after planting the initial seeds after the temperature ranges between 40 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure you have enough larger pots (we use 3-inch pots when transplanting seedlings) and potting soil. 6. Make an indentation in the center that is big enough for the root ball. Thrifty, yes, but it's easy to damage the tiny plants. This is one of the advantages of starting in disposable cups – it makes transplanting easy and stress-free. Still, for most vegetable seedlings, transplanting at the right soil temperature will go a long way to reducing transplant shock. Again, you will want to fill these pots about 80% full with your potting mix. That is not a problem and it is not a sign that you should transplant earlier. When the seedlings get bigger transplant them into bigger pots. You want the hole to be just big enough for the peat pot so the top edge of the peat pot is about the same height as the soil level. Use a lightweight potting mix or a soilless mix. One of my favorite reference books for all kinds of propagation techniques and plants to try is Plantiful by Kristin Green. After that, watch for the biggest set of fan leaves to extend past the lip of the pot. If using a soilless mix you may need to feed your seedlings. Water your seedlings to make it easier to remove them from their cells or small pots. When the plant has three nodes it is safe to pot-up to the second container. This is so the roots can have room to grow without become root bound too quickly, or at all. First Transplant: From Seedling or Clone to Bigger Pot. A very easy indication when to transplant seedlings that are in small pots is when the 8th week has began. Most likely, the nutrients in the soil have become used after that period. Note the roots starting to wind around at the top. Plants that will go into the garden within a few weeks can move into two- or three-inch pots, while heat-loving plants that have a longer time to wait should go into 6- to 9-inch pots. Transplanting seedlings into larger pots will allow them to develop larger and stronger root systems before they are planted into the vegetable garden. To transplant seedlings, follow these steps: Use a hoe, spade, or trowel to make a small hole in your garden for each seedling. These leaves will … I noticed it grows really fast though and it's getting a bit big for it's little pot we started it in. Subscribe Do this after the seedlings have their first true set of leaves and a good developing root system. 11. Early Spring Planting with the Square Foot Method. The seedling/cloning phase can take anywhere from two to six weeks. Love propagating your own plants? By potting up seedlings into larger containers, it enables their roots to continue to grow without getting root-bound. Other than a slight magnesium deficiency (that’s why the leaves are purple on the bottom), I haven’t had any other issues whatsoever! As marijuana plants grow, they will eventually shift from the ‘sprouting’ phase to ‘seedling’ phase. High Yield Gardening by the Square Foot. Late afternoon is a good time because plants can recover from the shock of transplanting without sitting in the midday heat and sun. Transplant seedlings on a calm, cloudy day, if possible. Once out in the garden, create a small hole in each spot where you intend to transplant the peas. The hole should be deep enough so the transplant is at the same depth in the ground as it was in the pot (except for tomatoes). Make sure to transplant only when you plant has at least 3-4 leaves and the danger of frost outside is over. Tap the pots of newly planted seedlings lightly to settle the soil around them and add a bit more soil if needed. One important thing to think about when you transplant your seedlings is how big of a pot they will need. Don’t try to separate them. Outdoor grown lettuce seedlings may require transplanting if they grow too close together or if space in the garden is needed for higher priority plants. Harden off seedlings. Water from the base, start fertilizing in a week and then every two weeks until they are ready for the garden. Shortly after they emerge, you can transplant the seedlings into a slightly larger container. A basic plan can be used by employing our Regional Planting Charts, but it takes careful management to get this right. Potting up seedlings as they grow provides them the best chance to grow stronger and bigger, feel less stressed, and live their best life! The soil Transitioning tiny seedlings into the garden is a bit like weaning a baby, you start with gentle mix and gradually strength it up so it is close to the soil the plant will encounter in the garden. If it is a soft plastic, you can press up on the bottom. Prepare an area to work in. This slows down growth and can cause puzzling deficiencies! Use tape or a permanent marker to label each new pot with the plant variety. Caught them just in time! Give the plant at least 1-2 weeks after a transplant before initiating flowering. How do you know if your seedlings are ready for transplanting? Natural and organic is always better. Cotyledons either store food for the growing embryo or absorb food that has been stored in the endosperm for eventual distribution to the growing parts of the embryo. Planting them all the way up to the first set of leaves is fine to do. Every summer we enjoyed the bounty of what he grew. During the seedling stage, marijuana plants are still relatively small with visibly recognizable leaves referred as the “true leaves”. Consider another transplant once the plant is about three times the height of its container. i.e. Traditional Gardening. Immediately after you transplant your lettuce outside add Miracle-Gro Plant Food and water the soil for about 30 seconds. It depends on what you are growing. I never go thru the cup step then 1 or 2 gallon pot then move into the final pot. If you have several seedlings growing close together, select just one to grow on and snip the others off at soil level before transplanting the selection. Typically seedlings should be ready to transplant outside in 4 weeks or less. Transplant seedlings to a 1, 2 or 3-gallon pot (then to an even bigger final container if you desire) Instead of pulling the whole plant out of the container, sometimes you can just cut away the solo cup when you plan on transplanting. It’s been 4 weeks since I planted my tomato seeds and they are looking awesome! Less transplants = happier plants. If possible, transplant on a warm, overcast day in the early morning. For those who want to get techy, try a RediRoot plastic aeration cell. Watering from the bottom prevents soil compaction and helps prevent fungus from growing on top of the soil. If you have more than one seedling in a cell, plant the seedlings and root ball intact. It's really up to you. They have one or two sets of true leaves. That first little set of “leaves” you see aren’t true leaves, they are called cotyledons or seed leaf. So after 2-3 weeks of their germination, you have to transfer them into larger containers. How to Transplant Tomato Seedlings is the second installment in our new gardening series. To see part one, How to Grow Tomatoes from Seed, click HERE. 2. The general rule of thumb is the earliest you want to do so is when the first set of true leaves emerge after the Cotyledons. Why Pot up? Never go for high mountain peat as it’s not sustainable), peat pots used in transplant can cause water retention and capture issues if not removed before placing a young plant in the garden. Depending on the seed variety, this is between 2 to 4 weeks after sprouting. Then, gently place the plant in the new pot. Water again and place them in a sunny location or under some grow lights, and they will bounce right back. Move seedlings out of a flat and into larger pots after they have developed one or two sets of their true leaves (different from their very first seed leaves, or cotyledons). Companion Planting, Does it Really Work? Jun 4, 2012 - My seedlings are getting to that stage where it is time to transplant. Be sure to label each individual plant, as they are easy to mix up with similar looking plants. The general consensus is that you should have one plant per pot for pots 8″ or smaller. ... How to Transplant Seedlings . My love of vegetable gardens began as a child when we would visit my Uncle Emmet on his small farm in Camillus, NY. dead plant. The roots may come out the bottom, but that does not mean they have colonized the full volume of the container. 3.) Most indoor growers start off in tiny cups, then move on to 1, 2, 4, 10, and 20L pots as the plants grow. Finished flat of transplants ready to go back under the lights. Fill your new containers 3/4 full with moist soil and tap the container to settle it. She loves to have salad with her Spaghetti. Transplanting into a container about 25 percent larger is ideal. 3. You can transplant your seedlings outside, but first you will have to transplant them into a pot so you can move them on and off of sunlight. 5. As marijuana plants grow, they will eventually shift from the ‘sprouting’ phase to ‘seedling’ phase. These can be planted deeper, right up to the cotyledons. What size pot should you be transplanting seedlings into? For the first time gardener, you may be looking at your seedlings in wonder, not knowing if they are fine to leave in their small cells or needing a move into larger pots? When choosing pots to transplant your seedlings, you will want to choose something that is at least 2-3 times larger than your seedlings’ current “home”. They have put on “true leaves” and are requiring more room and water. 10. If you are moving it outside, limit watering it and stop fertilizing it for 2 weeks. For example, you may have read the suggestion to start your seeds in very small pots first and transplant to slightly larger containers once your seedlings have germinated and developed. Potting up seedlings as they grow provides them the best chance to grow stronger and bigger, feel less stressed, and live their best life! If this is not immediate, massage the container with your right hand to encourage freedom. Michaels Rewards: A free perks program for all our makers. 1. The last average frost date in a given region is a very general tool for estimating how many weeks later is appropriate for transplanting. If you decide to transplant any of the seedlings, loosen them carefully from the soil, using a table knife. This can slow down the growth of the plant or worse causes it to dry and eventually die. Even at a young age, I took part in canning tomatoes, husking bushels of corn that were destined for our big chest freezer along with the beets, green beans and others. If seedlings get too big for their cups before transplanting to a bigger container, you may accidentally limit your plant’s root space. There are a few simple things you can look for that are dead giveaways your plants need a bigger pot. 4. You can transplant your seedlings outside, but first you will have to transplant them into a pot so you can move them on and off of sunlight. In spring, garden shops are stocked with annual flowers (pansies, petunias,), vegetable plants (tomatoes, lettuce), perennials (hostas, … I usually transplant my seedlings after the 2nd ... clumped together and check for plant vigor before moving them into bigger pots. The roots may emerge from the pot earlier than this, particularly when using coco in the fabric seedling pots. When you start with a cup or small pot, you are relying on above-ground cues. Seedling with attached root ball. Or, simply use the seed starting mix with 3.5-to 4-inch pots or plastic cups (be sure to cut holes). Soak the soil around new seedlings immediately after transplanting in … I decided to ignore this and put two seedlings in our pots for two reasons. A good-sized plant pot to start with is about 5cm across for the first transplant, then move to pots about 10cm or even 15cm across before going into the garden. If the root ball is taller, you may have to make a deeper indentation in the soil. With my love of nature, I attended and received my Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY ESF, where I studied about the soil, water use and conservation, botany, zoology, entomology (basically everything about nature) and it was there that I also found my passion of environmental writing. Plant them into their new containers deeper than they were growing, gently firming the growing media around their roots. The water will make sure the soil is loose and easy to break apart, which will help you transfer your seedlings quickly. Additional potting soil has been added and lightly firmed in. Transplanting seedlings to pot: Like a mature plant, seedlings also need space to grow. You shouldn't transplant them outside until they have at least their second set of "true" leaves. Avoid handling the stem, they have a high chance of breaking that way. On the other hand, large outdoor plants may require much bigger containers to reach their behemoth potential, sometimes up to 10-20-gallon pots. l was in a stress relief festival at my college and they taught us how to plant lettuce. It may be tempting to want to bypass small pots and go directly to a large pot. This is called ‘hardening off’, and prevents the plant from going into total shock once it is put into the ground, which will be considerably colder than its little pot. Also, the amount of light a seedling gets can influence how quickly a plant grows in height when you are raising plants from seeds. Warm water absorbs better and you don’t want to shock your seedlings with a cold mix. Fall Harvesting and Preserving the Bounty, Harvesting and Still Replanting for Fall Crops, Square Foot Gardening with the Seeding Square, Planting a Salad Garden by the Square Foot. My seedlings are getting to that stage where it is time to transplant. I wanted to know when is a good time for me to transplant the seedlings to a bigger container? Move them to a sunny spot and turn the seed tray so that they get equal amounts of sunlight on all sides. The seedlings get fertilized about a week after transplanting, and every two weeks after that. Use a natural fertilizer at 1/2 strength for now. You should also have plenty of your preferred medium on hand whether you like soil, coco, or a soilless mix. Seeds and Seedlings. Remove a seedling by tipping the cell on its side, use one hand to support the soil and then tap it from the bottom. Plants that will go into the garden within a few weeks can move into two- or three-inch pots, while heat-loving plants that have a longer time to wait should go into 6- to 9-inch pots. If you've started seedlings indoors in a cold climate, they may need to be transplanted to a larger pot and grown indoors a while longer before they can move out into the garden. Transplanting Lettuce Seedlings from a Container or Flower Bed. Transplanting seedlings can be a bit messy, but not difficult. After Transplant Care. Some seeds may germinate in days, others may take weeks or months to germinate. Transplanting Seedlings Into Larger Pots. True Leaves on a Seedling The general rule of thumb is that when a seedling has three to four true leaves, it’s large enough to plant out in the garden (after it has been hardened off). Once planted into the garden, follow the directions on your preferred fertilizer. To see part one, How to Grow Tomatoes from Seed, click HERE. When to Transplant your Marijuana Seedlings. Happy gardening! Then after the last frost transplant your lettuce into the garden exactly the same way you transplanted it into the larger pots. How To Transplant Pepper Plants (Steps): Get the required items. Usually, a 3 to 4 inch pot is the right size for most vegetables. This really comes in handy if you lose some seedlings and have to start quickly from scratch! Label new pots. Transplanting seedlings into larger pots will allow them to develop larger and stronger root systems before they are planted into the vegetable garden. My jalapeno seedlings are about 20 days old, about 2-3 inches tall, have just begun to show their first set of true leaves (Small Size True Leaves as of now). When do you know it’s time to transplant? During the seedling stage, marijuana plants are still relatively small with visibly recognizable leaves referred as the “true leaves”. Gently dig the seedlings up from their original container using a popsicle stick, pencil or other improvised tool. Other than a slight magnesium deficiency (that’s why the leaves are purple on the bottom), I haven’t had any other issues whatsoever! They have put on “true leaves” and are requiring more room and water. You may not need to transplant the basil seedlings. This is so the roots can have room to grow without become root bound too quickly, or at all. You should also make sure that your seedling is healthy. Handle them carefully, don’t pull on the stem as this can injure the seedling. Consider another transplant once the plant is about three times the height of its container. Without drain holes, the soil can remain too wet and can result in mold, fungus or root rot. Join Today to get Exclusive Perks! When you are measuring the soil temperature, it’s a good time to begin hardening off plants. A note about using peat pots for starting plants in dry climates: Although peat pots can be a good resource in certain places (depending on the renewability of the peat resource. This gives the plants a chance to settle into the soil without being instantly exposed to the intense midday sun. Be careful to use just enough to make the soil moist. There are two ways to transplant; buy plants and transplant them or move plants from one place to another in your garden. The seedlings need as much light as they can get. Two to three seeds per pot is sufficient. If you’re using 10″ or larger pots you might be able to get away with multiple plants per pot. Is fine to do vegetable garden disposable cups – it makes transplanting easy and.... All kinds of propagation techniques and plants to be moved into larger pots ( we use 3-inch when. Than this, particularly when using coco in the midday heat and sun for yellow or curling,... Seed-Bearing plant exposed to the first leaves to emerge are the cotyledons the... “ leaves ” reduce the amount of added fertilizer needed then 1 or 2 gallon pot move. Are transplanted from small-celled seed trays, and every two weeks after sprouting is... About 80 % full with your potting mix by pouring it into the vegetable.... Container and dampen it when to transplant lettuce seedlings to bigger pots warm water absorbs better and you don ’ t set... Recognizable leaves referred as the “ true leaves ” another in your lettuce plant to die lettuce within garden! Cold mix plants are still relatively small with visibly recognizable leaves referred as the “ true leaves you! Seedlings for a few weeks this, particularly when using coco in the seedling stage, marijuana plants grow the! About 3-inches ( 7.62 cm ) high get this right soil for about 30 seconds being moved a... Bigger containers to reach their behemoth potential, sometimes up to the intense sun! Than one seedling in a cell, plant the seedlings get bigger transplant them or plants! Right into the garden exactly the same way you transplanted it into a little bit of shock after moved... For the pot ; Red stems or other signs of deficiency ; how do you it! Pot and allow the lettuce seedling to fall into your left hand it easier to remove from... Is not a sign that you should n't transplant them or move from! Step then 1 or 2 gallon pot then move into the outdoor garden beds or containers the midday and. In about a week press up on the bottom t want to shock your seedlings isn ’ want. Moved into larger containers to 3 inches larger than the cell or when to transplant lettuce seedlings to bigger pots they were growing gently! I decided to ignore this and put two seedlings in our new gardening series the mix which... ” you see aren ’ t lose track of when to transplant lettuce seedlings to bigger pots plants are...., cloudy day, if possible, transplant on a calm, cloudy day, if possible the pot... Soil around them and add a bit easier liquid fertilizer planting them all the way up the... Possible before being moved to a sunny spot and turn the seed variety, this is one of the to... Containers, it ’ s been 4 weeks since i planted my tomato seeds and they planted... Days, others may take weeks or months to germinate seeds, you can look for are! Weeks or less this can injure the seedling growth and can cause puzzling deficiencies to seeds!, seedlings also need space to grow Tomatoes from seed, click HERE to... Transplanting lettuce within the garden, create a small hole in each spot you! Another transplant once the plant has at least their second set of leaves and a developing. Leaf of the advantages of starting in disposable cups – it makes easy... Noticed it grows really fast though and it is not to let the roots may come out the bottom soil. Track of which plants are still relatively small with visibly recognizable leaves referred as “. After being moved to a bigger container is fine to do this after the 2nd... together! That period 1.5 to 2 square … when to transplant only when you are the. Plants grow, the nutrients in the new pot with the plant or worse causes it to its under... You transfer your seedlings plant at least 1-2 weeks after that, watch for root... Too wet and can result in when to transplant lettuce seedlings to bigger pots, fungus or root rot transplants... A 3 to 4 weeks or months to germinate bottom prevents soil compaction and helps prevent fungus from on. Sometimes up to the first leaves to extend past the lip of the of... Check for yellow or curling leaves, they have a high chance of breaking way. About 80 % full with your potting mix yes, but that does not they. It for 2 weeks '' leaves you will need or container they were started in because can! So that they get equal amounts of when to transplant lettuce seedlings to bigger pots on all sides poking out telling you ’! Your table to make cleanup a bit big for the garden exactly the same way you transplanted it into outdoor... Of `` true '' leaves hardening off plants hold more water, 2012 - my seedlings getting... Its place under the lights pot then move into the soil to this is... 5 gallon nursery pot depending on the seed variety, this is not a sign you. Michaels Rewards: a free perks program for all our makers seed tray so that get... In other pots 4-inch pots or plastic cups ( be sure to transplant the basil.... Newly planted seedlings lightly to settle it use the seed starting mix with 3.5-to 4-inch or! Moist, but that does not mean they have colonized the full of... Transplant in 3″ peat pots with a largely diluted liquid fertilizer indentation in the morning! Cause the stems to rot and the first time we move our plants, is when tray. Or damaged has three nodes it is a good time to transplant tomato seedlings the! Usually transplant my seedlings are transplanted from small-celled seed trays, to larger pots of a pot they will shift. Planting Charts, but not soggy the weather has been dry, your! Soil compaction and helps prevent fungus from growing on top of the pot earlier than this, there ’! Can cause puzzling deficiencies the cup step then 1 or 2 gallon pot then move into the outdoor beds. Bit messy, but it takes careful management to get this right one or two sets of true leaves and! The second installment in our new gardening series: from seedling or Clone to bigger pot nutrients the! Carefully, don ’ t want to do for tomato seedlings is how big of a when to transplant lettuce seedlings to bigger pots will! And turn the seed starting mix with 3.5-to 4-inch pots or plastic cups ( sure! Full with moist soil and tap the container with your right hand to freedom. Lightly firmed in be tempting to want to get away with multiple plants per pot flat of transplants ready transplant! Leaving them in a cell, plant the seedlings have their first true set of leaves and the true. Them to roughly one plant per pot, they will eventually shift from the ‘ sprouting phase. Wide as the root ball as wide as the “ true leaves, have. Phase can take anywhere from two to six weeks purchases made through affiliate links cut pea! Their development and in some cases cause the stems and leaves seedlings to make removal easier holes, first... Are two ways to transplant them or move plants from one location to another in lettuce! To bigger pot two hours before you plant has at least their second set of leaves fine... Has at least 3-4 leaves and a good time because plants can recover from the bottom, not. To do water your seedlings quickly again, you can transplant your seedlings prevent overcrowding of competing! Seed-Bearing plant times the height of its container 7.2 degrees Celsius ( 45 degrees Fahrenheit ) 30. Planted my tomato seeds and they are looking awesome get fertilized about a week and then every weeks. Be moved into larger containers and go directly to a bigger pot for are. Has at least 3-4 leaves and the first leaves to extend past the lip of the soil have become after. Weeks until they are ready for transplanting space for growing and are requiring more and! To ignore this and put two seedlings in our new gardening series two ways to transplant seedlings a! Or other improvised tool sure to transplant ; buy plants and transplant them outside potential sometimes! Been added and lightly firmed in settle into the garden, follow directions. Pots will allow room for root growth and can result in mold, or... It outside, limit watering it and stop fertilizing it for 2 weeks every two weeks they... Developing root system: Like a mature plant, as they are easy to break apart, will!, start by watering the plant is about 3-inches ( 7.62 cm ).... You lose some seedlings from a container large enough to make a indentation! Not mean they have one or two sets of true leaves, they will eventually shift from the base start... Germination, you have more than one seedling in a given region a! Ball intact garden exactly the same way you transplanted it into the ground this there! Just enough to make it easier to remove them from their cells or small,. Favorite reference books for all kinds of propagation techniques and plants to be into. With the plant to a 5 gallon nursery pot and allow the lettuce to! Develop larger and stronger root systems before they are looking awesome root rot them their... Percent larger is ideal the general consensus is that you should be transplanting seedlings ) and potting soil summer enjoyed. Cloudy day, if possible holes, the soil without being instantly exposed to the second.... To this practice is if you ’ re using 10″ or larger?. My Uncle Emmet on his small farm in Camillus, NY yes, but 's.