Planting out the vegetable starts
When I plant out the vegetable starts, it is into already prepared soil (see the growing page).
Work quickly to avoid damaging the roots, or work in some shade as you are separating them to plant them in the garden. Your own body is shade enough to help.
When I worked for a commercial nursery, I planted extremely small tissue cultured perennials (essentially the premature babies of the plant world). As we separated the very tiny plants, we would regularly mist them with spray bottles to keep the roots moist. I don’t go that far when planting in the garden.
To help the plants avoid transplant shock, I do two things.
1. Water in the plants with a mixture of water and liquid kelp (any brand).
2. Cover the plants for a week or so with a nonwoven lightweight soil separator trench wrap material that I get from Home Depot. I use arcs of heavy wire to support the material above the plants and secure it with clothes pins.
(On warm days, I open up the ends or sides of the cloth cover to allow air flow.)Plants have enough to deal with after being planted out. It really helps to protect them from excess drying wind and sun as well as rain pelting down which could damage the tender leaves. They have had a protected life in the greenhouse, so need a little help adjusting to the real world.
