• Home
  • Get to Know Me
  • Blog
  • Our Goat Herd
    • Livestock for Sale
    • BiteMe! Herbal Treats
  • Contact Me

The 104 Homestead

  • HOMESTEAD LIVING
    • CRAFTS & DIYS
    • GREEN CLEANING
    • HOMEMADE ALTERNATIVES
    • HOMESTEAD HOLIDAYS
    • SIMPLE SKILLS
  • REAL FOOD
    • BEVERAGES
    • DESSERTS
    • FOOD MATTERS
    • PRESERVATION
    • SIMPLE RECIPES
    • TIPS & TRICKS
  • BACKYARD GARDEN
    • BACK TO EDEN
    • GARDEN TIPS
    • GETTING STARTED
    • ORGANIC SOLUTIONS
    • SEED STARTING & SAVING
  • HOMESTEAD ANIMALS
    • CHICKENS
    • DUCKS
    • GOATS
    • HOUSE PETS
    • QUAIL
    • RABBITS
  • INSPIRING HOMESTEADS
    • URBAN HOMESTEADS
    • SUBURBAN HOMESTEADS
    • RURAL HOMESTEADS
    • FARMSTEADS
    • MORE INSPIRATION

04/28/15

A Hardening Off & Transplanting Guide



Heads up! I link to products and services that I love from time to time. More often than not I have an affiliate relationship with these providers. What does that mean? I might make a small percentage from any purchases you make, but don't worry, you won't pay even a penny more. Thanks for supporting The 104 Homestead. You can see our full disclosure statement here.

  • 249shares
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • WhatsApp
  • Share

It’s time to plant! You started seeds inside, nurtured them, and watched them grow, and now you’re ready to transplant them into the garden. Or, maybe you just returned home from the nursery with an armful of new plants. Either way, before you start digging, there are two key things you need to know to make sure your plants are successful in the garden – hardening off and transplanting.

Before you start digging, there are two key things you need to know to make sure your plants are successful in the garden - hardening off and transplanting.

Hardening Off Your Plants

Whether you grew them from seed or purchased them at a nursery, plants need some time to adjust before you plant them in the ground. Most seedlings have been sheltered inside or in a greenhouse, and they aren’t ready just yet for the harsh conditions of life outdoors. If seedlings are transplanted without time to adjust, they can go into shock and die. We want our plants to survive and thrive!

At Backyard Roots, we recommend a transition period of one week to get seedlings ready to transplant. This transition period is called hardening off, and your goal during this time is to expose your seedlings to different outdoor conditions so they can adapt. Sun, wind, rain and varying temperatures are all a part of the hardening off process.

Before you start digging, there are two key things you need to know to make sure your plants are successful in the garden - hardening off and transplanting.

Here is a step-by-step guide to hardening off your seedlings:

  • On day one, start by putting your seedlings outside for a couple of hours. It’s easiest to place them in a tray to make carrying them back and forth between the garden and the house or garage easier.
  • The next day, put your seedlings outside again, but this time leave them out for a bit longer. Your goal is to build up from 2 hours on the first day to full days (morning to night) at the end of the week.
  • Even if it’s super nice and sunny outside, continue to build up gradually. Believe it or not, seedlings can get sunburned from too much sun without time to adapt!
  • As the amount of time you’re leaving the seedlings out for increases, be sure to bring them inside to your house or garage each night. They still need some protection until they are in the ground, which will help insulate them.
  • While you’re hardening off your plants, make sure they get enough water – the soil in the containers will tend to dry out more quickly outside than it does inside.

Transplanting Your Plants

Okay! You’ve patiently waited a week while hardening off your seedlings, and now it’s time to transplant them. Figure out where you want your plants to go and grab a small hand shovel. The hori-hori is our go-to garden tool, and it’s great transplanting. To remove the seedling from its container, tip it upside down and gently squeeze the bottom of the container. The transplant should slide out with the roots fairly intact. Don’t worry about hurting the roots – it’s actually better to rough them up a little bit than for them to stay compacted.

Before you start digging, there are two key things you need to know to make sure your plants are successful in the garden - hardening off and transplanting.

Dig a hole that is the same depth as the root ball of your transplant, and place the plant in it. You want the soil line in the garden to match the soil line of the transplant – no more and no less. Once you have that positioning, hold the transplant with one hand while using your other hand to fill in the rest of the hole with dirt. You don’t want to compact the soil too much, but it’s okay to press around the stem of the seedling a bit to make sure it’s steady where you planted it.

After you transplant your seedlings, give them a good drink of water and then sit back and watch them grow!

Before you start digging, there are two key things you need to know to make sure your plants are successful in the garden - hardening off and transplanting.

You May Also Like

  • I'm an outdoor garden person. It's where my thumb shines the greenest. These five tips have helped me keep my houseplants happy and healthy.Your Guide to Healthy Houseplants
  • There’s nothing like vegetables fresh from the garden, but not all of us have the time or energy it takes to stay on top of garden upkeep.The Best Vegetables for Lazy Gardeners
  • More people are turning to growing their own organic vegetables in their backyards. Setting up a veggie garden in your backyard has many advantages.Setting Up a Veggie Garden in the Backyard
  • Foraging has become quite trendy in the last few years. It is as old as life itself and not nearly as overwhelming as it can seem by the current trend.Backyard Foraging: Food from Your Yard
  • 249shares
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • WhatsApp
  • Share
The following two tabs change content below.
  • Bio
  • Latest Posts
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profile

Kellie Phelan

Kellie is the founder of Backyard Roots, a site dedicated to making growing food fun, easy, and inspirational. Originally a country girl, Kellie now lives in the city (Seattle!), and she is passionate about converting her lawn into an edible landscape. Her goal with Backyard Roots is to make growing food accessible to everyone by providing both resources and inspiration. Backyard Roots is changing the world, one yard at a time!
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profile

Latest posts by Kellie Phelan (see all)

  • A Hardening Off & Transplanting Guide - April 28, 2015
  • 3-Step Guide to Using Galvanized Bins as Planters - February 12, 2015
Home » Backyard Garden » A Hardening Off & Transplanting Guide

1 Comment
Backyard Garden

Subscribe

« Original Organics {Product Review}
World Naked Gardening Day »

Comments

  1. elaine says

    February 1, 2018 at 3:56 pm

    I find that if I spray my seedlings with neem oil insecticide directly after transplanting it helps give them a good start and protection from those insects that think the new baby plants are a free for all salad bar!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome! My name
is Jessica Lane. I live a nearly self-sufficient lifestyle with my sweet
husband and three beautiful children on 1/4 acre in Maine. We raise Nigerian Dwarf goats, ducks, and chickens, and we grow as much food as we can. What we can't grow or produce ourselves we barter for. If we can homestead where we live, what's stopping you?

Read More…

Search This Site

Now Trending

Sand is becoming a very common coop bedding and it's easy to see why. Sand has so many benefits and when used properly, I think it's a bedding that you wont regret using.
Do you have a bunch of squash on hand? Freeze it for later! Freezing spaghetti squash is super easy and takes less than an hour from start to finish.
We love this classic and comforting broccoli rice and cheese casserole for easy weeknight meals. Freezer-friendly and reheats well for leftovers.

My Latest Videos

Keep In Touch

  • 52,334 Pinteresting Followers
  • 19,827 Fabulous Fans
  • 4,818 Twitastic Friends
  • 2,140 InstaBuddies
  • 81 Subscribers

BiteMe! Goat Treats

  • Home
  • Homestead Living
  • Real Food
  • Homestead Animals
  • Gardening & Outdoors
  • Inspiring Homesteads

Disclaimer

I am not a doctor, lawyer, veterinarian or Martha Stewart. Please use the knowledge acquired from this site responsibly.

See Our Privacy Policy

Disclosure

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Work With Me

Become a Contributor/Guest Writer
Meet Our Current Contributors
Advertise on The 104 Homestead
Contact Me

© 2013-2018 Jessica Lane of The 104 Homestead