Bare Root and Paper, Peat & Plastic Pot Transplanting Methods

This next training video How to Transplant Seedlings Outdoors teaches you skills that fulfill High Performance Garden Characteristic #4, “Little Time Spent” (if you don’t know the 12 characteristics of a high performance garden watch our short training video introduction). By transplanting with these methods you give your plants the best chance at success saving you time later when you are trying to help them limp along. When you transplant seedlings outdoors there are various different methods depending on whether or not the seedlings you are transplanting are fussy or easy to transplant. If you need to refresh your memory on which plants are which when it comes to easy, fussy or close to impossible transplanting go on ahead and read How to Start Seeds Indoors. Don’t worry we will be here for you when you are finished! It is integral to the process of transplanting your seedlings outdoors to harden them off first. Now let’s learn the methods for planting easy to transplant seedlings with the bare root technique and then the 3 different pot transplanting methods!

Need a refresher? For the Easy, Fussy & Difficult Transplant List read the Starting Your Seedlings Indoors blog post. Need shortcuts for your hardening off process? Watch our Hardening Off Seedlings Training Video.

How to Bare Root Transplant Seedlings Outdoors

In the training video we bare root transplanted lettuce and celery from our seedling trays. This is an easy process that any gardener can do that gives your seedlings a great head start!

1. Lift a small handful of seedlings from the tray. Making sure to reach in and scoop from the bottom, never pulling upwards on the stalks as this can break the root systems.
2. Gently remove one seedling from your handful. (When you remove seedlings in this way you are bound to tear some of the roots. Don’t worry! Step 3 helps with this issue!)
3. Now balance the roots and leaves. Look over your plant and remove extraneous leaves making sure not to disturb the crown (center leaves of the plant). We want our root system to be able to support the plant!
4. Plant your seedling at a depth that is right below the crown and repeat!

(Pin these simple instructions to your Gardening Pinterest Board)

How to Plant Fussy Transplant Seedlings Outdoors

There are different methods for fussy transplant seedlings depending on the pot you are removing them from. In the training video we transplanted our beet seedlings from a tray in a similar style as the bare root method. Our 3 different pots from How to Start Your Seeds Indoors will need slightly different methods to insure we do not disturb the root systems of our cucumber seedlings. Generally when you transplant fussy seedlings outdoors you will follow these 2 steps.

1. Remove any obstructions to further root growth for your seedlings.
2. Without disturbing the root system plant the seedlings at a depth that is right below the crown of the plant.

Peat pots I prefer to tear away any extraneous pot material so the roots are in no way constrained. This should be done carefully as the plant root system can sometimes penetrate the pot. In that case I leave those pieces attached to the seedling when I plant. (You can pin this helpful hint for peat pots to one of your boards on Pinterest.)

Paper pots are incredibly biodegradable. I simply open the bottom of the pot to give the seedlings root system room and then transplant the seedling directly. (You can pin the paper pot instructions to one of your boards on Pinterest)

Plastic pots take a little bit more effort. Gently support the plants and turn the pot upside down. Then squeezing the sides at the same time you push the bottom of the pot your seedlings should slide out like a charm. Resist the urge to disturb the root system by crumbling the “dirt block” in your hands! Simply transplant the seedlings into the soil right below the leaves. (You can pin the step by step instructions for plastic pots to one of your boards on Pinterest.)

Are you ready to transplant your seedlings? What methods will you be using to transplant those fussier seedlings? 

I look forward to hearing all about it! Until next time,

Lynn Gillespie

Email me any questions you have about hardening off your seedlings or any type of gardening question. I would love to help you achieve the high performance garden of your dreams!