Whether you germinated seeds yourself or bought starts locally, knowing how to properly transplant your little plants is a must for everyone.  Your plants need the right conditions to grow big enough to fully establish themselves.  Here is an easy guide to transplanting seedlings.

Transplanting for Beginners

Prep the Area

The first step to transplanting your seedlings is to prep the area you will be placing your plants.  Bring your well drained pots or containers out, place in a tray to hold water if your containers are made for that.  If you are planting outdoors, make sure that the soil around the planting area is fine.  Till, hoe, or spade the soil until there are no clumps left.

Sow the Soil

For growing in containers, sprinkle a thin layer of healthy organic soil into the bottom of the container.  This is to make sure roots have something to grow down into besides the plastic container.

Ensure Healthy Growth

Growing in outdoor soil may require some amendments to give you proper growth.  Compost, blood meal, bone meal, or other amendments will ensure that your soil has everything it needs to promote healthy growth.

Did you know adding a little Epsom salt to the soil will give your tomatoes a boost of magnesium for a crazy amount of tomatoes this year?  Check out this helpful guide to ensure that your soil has the right amount of what it needs and stay tuned tomorrow for Part 2!

What is NPK?

How NPK Affects Plant Health

Photos: Dwight Sipler

By Jake Frazier

Jake Frazier is an outdoor enthusiast and the owner of Residential Ecology, a sustainable ecological resource management company. He uses existing natural systems to improve the quality of life for both humans and the Earth. Jake is interested in permaculture, living systems and exploring. Connect with him on LinkedIn.