Seedlings to Transplants

raspberianred · May 17, 2010

I have lots of plants that are on their second set of true leaves, but the stem is still rather small. I know when we go to buy the transplants that they are a lot larger than this. But how soon can these go out? What am I going by as far as being able to go out in the garden. They are almost hardened off and I thought I should find out before I mess it up! Thanks any help is appreciated.

GunnarSK · May 17, 2010

Probably you and your seedlings are ok, the main difference may be, that most "ready" plants got some chemical fertilizer. I haven't seen them of course, but if they are hardened off I guess your seedlings will grow fine once you plant them in the garden.

kath · May 17, 2010

If the weather and soil are warm, setting out small plants will work but if they have thin stems, I could put cutworm collars on them for sure.

dustdevil · May 22, 2010

You are a bit behind schedule. Bury your plants down to the first set of true leaves when you put them in the ground. They will form more roots and thicker stems.

May 17, 2010	#1
raspberianred Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tn Zone 6 Posts: 36	Seedlings to Transplants I have lots of plants that are on their second set of true leaves, but the stem is still rather small. I know when we go to buy the transplants that they are a lot larger than this. But how soon can these go out? What am I going by as far as being able to go out in the garden. They are almost hardened off and I thought I should find out before I mess it up! Thanks any help is appreciated.

May 17, 2010	#2
GunnarSK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Warsaw, Poland 52° N Posts: 363	Probably you and your seedlings are ok, the main difference may be, that most "ready" plants got some chemical fertilizer. I haven't seen them of course, but if they are hardened off I guess your seedlings will grow fine once you plant them in the garden.

May 17, 2010	#3
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	If the weather and soil are warm, setting out small plants will work but if they have thin stems, I could put cutworm collars on them for sure.

May 22, 2010	#4
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	You are a bit behind schedule. Bury your plants down to the first set of true leaves when you put them in the ground. They will form more roots and thicker stems.