Transplant Seedlings
- Confirm that outdoor conditions are suitable: past the last frost date for frost-sensitive plants, and soil temperature is warm enough for the species.
- Ensure seedlings have been hardened off for at least one week.
- Choose a cloudy day or transplant in the evening to reduce heat and light stress.
- Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball of the seedling. Space holes according to the plant’s spacing requirements.
- Gently remove the seedling from its container, disturbing the root ball as little as possible.
- Place the seedling in the hole at the same depth it was growing in its container (or slightly deeper for tomatoes, which can root along buried stems).
- Fill around the root ball with soil and press gently to eliminate large air pockets.
- Water thoroughly immediately after transplanting.
- Consider applying mulch around (but not touching) the stem to retain moisture and moderate soil temperature.