How to Transplant Sprouting Seedlings

Protect your work surface with several sheets of newspaper and arrange all the materials and tools you need in the order you will use them.

Fill peat or clay pots almost up to the top with planting medium for small seedlings and about halfway for larger seedlings.

Mist the planting medium. If it's damp it will cause less stress to the seedling roots.

Use the pencil to poke holes in the planting medium almost to the height of the seedlings; the leaves should remain above the soil.

Use the knife to gently lift the seedlings from the trays, being careful not to damage the roots or shake off too much soil. Separate them gently if their roots have become intertwined.

Lower the individual seedlings into the pre-poked holes in the peat or clay pots and bring the soil gently around them to just below the leaves. Place larger seedlings in the soil at the bottom of the pot and fill in gently around with more soil up to the lower leaves.

Place pots in a bright sunny place and water only if the soil appears dry. Over-watering can cause the seedlings to damp off -- succumb to fungal disease -- or fall over at the soil line.

Harden seedlings off before transplanting them to the garden by moving them outside for a few hours each day to get them used to outdoor conditions.

Prepare garden soil for transplanting and dig holes that will accommodate the root ball and the seedling stems up to the bottom leaves.

Place seedlings in holes, fill gently with more soil, and water lightly at soil level, being careful not to wet the plants.