How to transplant seedlings into bigger containers
After our seeds have germinated, we need to transplant these beautiful seedlings into bigger containers. I will share what has worked for us to keep our plants growing strong and healthy in our urban garden.
The beauty of seeing your plants grow from seeds is priceless (see indoor seed starting). You know it is time to transplant your seedlings when they grow the second set of true leaves. It should be around the third to fourth week after seed planting. Leaving them in a small space can create damage to the roots. So let’s get started!
Reusing your containers
Continuing with our eco-friendly way of thinking, we started using and reusing last year’s containers. We thought that reusing our pots and soil from last year was good enough. Then, we began to see unwanted plant bugs. Where did they come from?
Every place you live is different, and the conditions are different too, so you may encounter issues that never happened to you before. The only thing left to do it’s to find solutions! We went back to our books and videos, and this is what we have found:
Containers may keep some minerals or bacteria from the previous years which can cause problems for your plants, so it is important to wash them well before reusing them. This is how we clean our containers.
- Thoroughly washed your container with dish soap and warm water.
- Disinfect the container by spraying a mix using Hydrogen peroxide 3% solution; add one teaspoon per cup of water in a spray bottle.
Transplanting from a cardboard egg carton into a bigger container
Since the container, I use for my indoor planting is a cardboard egg carton, I keep the seedling inside the cardboard container.
The advantage of the cardboard egg carton method is that it stresses less the plant when transplanted to a bigger container because we are not taking the plant out of the same place it has grown. Better yet, the egg carton is biodegradable and will disintegrate as time goes by.
Materials and tools needed to transplant your seedlings into bigger containers
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Now that our containers are cleaned and ready, what else do we need to transplant our seedlings to bigger containers?
- Containers: There are different kinds of containers. We have a post that talks about the pros and cons of different kinds of containers here.
- Pebbles (this is optional).
- Potting mix: The majority of potting mix sold in the market, already comes with some nutrients for the plants.
- Watering can: I have used this for a year. I like it because I can remove the tip of the container or add it depending on the amount of water that I would like to add to the plant.
- Soil nutrients: (updated) We started to use worm casting has worked really well for us.
Note: With the new potting mix added to the container (most potting mixes already contain some nutrients), I add a little manure and worm casting when preparing the soil before transplanting. Just make sure you don’t add too many nutrients at once. For better results, read the instructions for each product you buy.
Steps to transplant seedlings into bigger containers
Add pebbles to the bottom of the container to improve water drainage. This step is optional.
Fill half of the container with the new potting mix.
Cut as much as possible the egg carton around the cardboard and the base. Place the base with the seeding into the big container.
Top the plants with more soil and add water so that the plant can settle in its new home.
Crops we are planting this Spring
The best way to know which plants will grow successfully in your garden is to find books from your area (with recommended crops to grow) and try planting them. Here is our list of crops for this year!
- Tomatoes
- Sweet Pepper
- Cucumber
- Beans
- Peas
- Onions
- Beets
- Squash
- Watercress
- Lavender
- Basil
- Lemon Balm
- Cilantro
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Mix Greens
- Sunflowers
- Calendula
My ” Planting Calendar Template ” is an excellent tool for keeping track of my plant’s growth. By using this calendar, I can follow the progress of each crop, making the next planting season an easier task.
hope you enjoy this gardening season! You may also like “Different ways of planting tomatoes.”
