Garland speaks with BDN about transplanting seedlings
Kate Garland, a horticultural professional with University of Maine Cooperative Extension, spoke with the Bangor Daily News about how to successfully transplant seedlings. Best practices depend on the plant, according to Garland — most plants should be transplanted at the same depth as they grew in pots, but some, like tomatoes, should be transplanted a little deeper, and potatoes and leeks should be buried in trenches and continuously covered as they grow. Before transplanting, Garland recommends hardening off seedlings by bringing them outside every day for at least a week, and making sure the soil is moist but not too wet. “If you dig in the soil and it sticks to your shovel, take a step back,” she said. The seedlings should first be removed from the pot, leaves first. “Plants can replace damaged roots and damaged leaves but young plants cannot replace a damaged stem. Pick them up by leaves as much as possible.” Once the seedling is out of the pot, the roots should be loosened. “Plants have developed a pretty good root system, but sometimes that root system has gotten to a point where it is a little bit dense. Use your fingers to tease the roots apart to give the plant a signal that it is out of the pot, and it is time to start branching out and growing into its new home,” Garland said. After the seedling is transplanted, Gardner advised gently covering the base with soil but not compacting it, and watering thoroughly. Garland recommended watering transplanted seedlings about an inch a week, and mulching with newspaper or other types of paper mulch to help the soil retain moisture and provide a barrier for weeds. Gardner also gave specific tips for transplanting onions and leeks, and discouraging cutworms from preying on young seedlings.