If you have been planning a vegetable patch and cultivating plants over the last month or so, then you’ll be at stage two now. I’m really thrilled with the results considering I was trapped abroad for two weeks but a friend kindly watered them for me and now they are in perfect condition for planting outside. Just goes to show how easy it is.
It’s still not too late to cultivate plants of your own and if you fancy it check out my March post on the subject.
You can plant certain seeds outside now that the weather is warmer but with such a bad March I didn’t want to take the chance so I grew inside. If that sounds like too much work then you can buy the baby plants in a garden centre but it’s not the same as watching a seed sprout – magic.
Among my little treasures are courgette, cabbage, peas, spring onion, lettuce, haricot beans, cucumber and sage. I have already planted rocket outside and the strawberries are coming along nicely.
So now is the exciting bit when I get to turn the soil, compost it and transplant the seedling outside and watch them flourish.
Harden-off
Seeds raised indoors need to be acclimatised to the temperatures and wind outside before planting outdoors. Bring them outside during daylight hours on good days for at least a week. Put them somewhere relatively sheltered and sunny and don’t forget to bring them back in. This allows the plant growth to slow down and become hardier.
Transplanting
- Transplanting is where you move the seedlings to their final growing position outside following the period of hardening off.
- The right time for this varies from vegetable to vegetable so just check the seed packet for more information.
- Water the seedlings well a few hours before transplanting. Gently pop the seedling out from beneath with your finger. Bring as much of the potting compost that the seedling grew in with you.
- Make a hole where you are going to grow the plant and then pop the seedling in carefully. Fill in with soil and firm in gently.
- Water the seedling well. Keep an eye on these little plants as they are very vulnerable at this stage of their development.