By the time you read this, it will likely be safe to plant flower and vegetable transplants and seeds. Do check the forecast for the next week or so before planting though, just to make sure a cold snap isn’t imminent. Here are a few planting tips.
When planting transplants from the nursery, first give the plants a good watering, thoroughly soaking the soil in the nursery pots. Make your plan and dig the holes before removing the plants from their pots so they don’t dry out while you are designing and re-designing your garden. With the exception of tomatoes, flower and vegetable transplants should be placed in the ground at the same level they were growing in their nursery pots so dig holes accordingly.
Tomatoes should be planted much deeper than they were in their nursery pots. Pinch off all the leaves below the top canopy of foliage. Place the plant deep in the hole so the canopy is just a few inches above the soil line. Roots will develop below ground along the entire stem making the plant much more sturdy and healthy.
To remove a plant from its plastic nursery pot, spread your fingers on either side of the stem, tip the pot upside down, squeeze or shake the nursery pot, and catch the plant in your hand as it releases from the pot. Turn the plant upright and use your thumbs and fingers to gently tease the roots apart. If the plant is especially pot bound and you see more roots than soil, use more force to loosen the roots.
Place the plant in its hole and fill in with soil around the roots. Firm the soil around the plant with your hands. Water gently but thoroughly. Depending on the sturdiness of the plant, watering may knock it down. Either use your fingers to “fluff” the plant back up afterwards, or better yet, gently hold the plant by one it its leaves while watering so it isn’t smashed into the soil.
This next tip is especially important for tomatoes but will benefit other transplants as well. Place a mulch such as straw or pine needles close to, but not touching, the plant’s stem. This will give it some support if heavy rains fall, prevent soil from splashing onto the leaves, or in the event of no rain, keep moisture from evaporating from the soil.
If you are planting seeds, the seed packet is a goldmine of information as to planting depth and spacing. It is important to have good seed to soil contact, so once the seeds are planted and covered with soil, use your hands or the flat side of a hoe to firm the soil over them. Some gardeners water immediately after planting, while others sit back and wait for rain. If you are in the water immediately camp, keep the seeds continuously moist until they germinate. In my experience, that doesn’t seem as necessary if you allow rain to do the initial watering.
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