Pension info How do I know when my seedlings are ready to transplant?
When the seedlings have developed their second set of true leaves, it’s time to transplant or thin them. If you don’t need many plants, you can thin them in place: just pinch or snip off the excess seedlings, leaving the remaining ones spaced about 2 inches apart.
When can I plant out lettuce seedlings?
For summer/autumn cropping: sow outdoors from late March to late July. For an even earlier crop, sow indoors in early February in seed trays and plant out in early March under cloches or plastic tunnels.
What size should seedlings be before transplanting?
The general rule of thumb is that when a seedling has three to four true leaves, it’s large enough to plant out in the garden (after it has been hardened off). When you plant a seed, the first leaves to emerge are the cotyledons. These leaves will look different from leaves that will grow later.
Why are my lettuce seedlings falling over?
If your lettuce feels pliable and silky then it’s heat stress; if they’re just long and thin then you may need to use a lower nitrogen potting soil. Not enough light, they need to be closer to the light or need more of it. They are reaching for the light that is what makes them leggy.
What happens if you transplant seedlings too early?
Timing is important when it comes to transplanting: transplant too early in spring and your plants may succumb to frost, transplant too late and your plants may get baked in the sun (and the opposite is true in autumn). In any case, it’s important to pay attention to local weather conditions.
How do you pull seedlings for transplanting?
10 simple steps to transplant
- Seedlings should be hardened-off, well-fed and watered before transplanting.
- Prepare a weed-free surface.
- Dig a hole large enough for seedling.
- Carefully remove seedling from its container.
- Set seedling in hole level with soil surface.
- Feed seedling to kick start growth.
What’s the best fertilizer for lettuce?
Because lettuces are a “cut and come again” crop, they need plenty of fertilizer to help them keep producing new leaves for the next harvest. Feed lettuce plants every two weeks with a balanced water soluble or granular fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 or a 5-5-5, diluted to half strength.
How do you harvest lettuce so it keeps growing?
Cut the outer lettuce leaves about 1 inch above the crown. This protects the crown so the lettuce can continue growing. Cut off the amount of lettuce needed when the leaves reach a length between 3 and 6 inches. Water the lettuce regularly to encourage continued growth even after you begin harvesting.
Can you grow lettuce from lettuce?
To regrow lettuce in water, save the end from a head of lettuce. That is, cut the leaves from the stem at about one inch (2.5 cm.) Be sure to change the water in the dish every day or so. After a couple of days, roots will begin to grow at the bottom of the stump and leaves will begin to form.
How big should cucumber seedlings be before transplanting?
When seedlings reach 4 inches tall, thin plants so that they are at least 1½ feet apart. If you’ve worked organic matter into the soil before planting, you may only need to side-dress your plants with compost or well-rotted manure.
How long can seedlings stay in trays?
Seedlings otherwise can become root-bound if not given adequate space for the roots. Typically, after sowing the seeds, the cell trays are used for around 3-4 weeks before transplanting occurs – whether it be to an outdoor plot or into a larger container.
Can you replant thinned seedlings?
You‘ve planted rows of vegetable seeds, and now it’s time to thin your seedlings. And besides wasting seeds, transplanting your thinnings is another reason not to plant too closely or you won’t be able to get a spade in between the seedlings in order to dig up the ones you want to save.