How to Transplant Romaine Lettuce Seedlings

Romaine lettuce forms a loose, upright head, as opposed to the tight leaves and round heads of the crisphead lettuce varieties. It requires a cool growing season so is typically grown as a spring or fall crop. Starting the seeds indoors six weeks before the typical planting date ensures the Romaine goes in the garden before temperatures become too warm in early summer or too cold in early winter. Transplant the Romaine seedlings carefully so the roots don't suffer damage and to prevent transplant shock, which slows initial growth in the garden bed.

Fertilizer
Trowel

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare the garden bed for transplanting four weeks before the last expected spring frost. Work 3 pounds of 5-10-10 fertilizer into every 100 square feet of Romaine bed, incorporating it with the top 6 inches of soil.
- 2
  Set the Romaine seedlings outdoors on a covered patio or in another area where the plants are protected from direct sunlight and high winds. Leave the plants outdoors during the daytime for one week, moving them indoors at night. Gradually move them into a more exposed area so the seedlings adjust to outdoor weather conditions and sunlight.
- 3
  Lift the seedlings from their pots. Handle the plants by their top leaves or by the root ball, but avoid tugging or handling the stems as this damages or kills the seedlings.
- 4
  Plant the Romaine in the garden bed at the same depth it was at in its seedling pot. Set the plants 6 to 10 inches apart in the row setting the rows 12 to 24 inches apart.
- 5
  Fill in the hole around the seedling's roots. Water the bed thoroughly until the soil is evenly moist and settled around the roots of the seedling.

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