There are times when you’ll want to start seeds in individual pots rather than communal flats, especially if you’re starting small numbers of several different annuals. You won’t be able to sow as many plants if you opt for individual pot plantings, but the seedlings that result will benefit by having extra vigor.
Always use containers large enough to accommodate the plants’ root growth until the seedlings are ready for transplant. (Remember that the roots of seedlings usually extend into the soil at least the same depth as the height of the plant.)
Photo Credit: ©Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Seedlings grown in individual pots have other advantages over their flat-planted counterparts: Like siblings sharing a bedroom, seeds that are started in undivided flats experience a good deal of competition early in their lives, making the plants less robust. Plants propagated in individual pots are less likely to succumb to weather changes once they’re in the garden. Additionally, disease-related problems are minimized when plantings are segregated in freshly sterilized, individual containers.
Sow seeds in pots as you would in flats: Start by reading the instructions contained on the seed package. Sow 2-3 seeds in each pot, setting them to the recommended spacing and depth. Gently bury the seeds, then press the soil until it’s firm. (Good soil contact is essential to germination.) Gently water or mist. When the seeds sprout, move the pots to a windowsill where they can receive a good amount of light. Continue to mist as necessary.
Instead of transplanting your seedlings when they’re an inch or two tall, thin them by using a small pair of scissors to snip off all but the strongest pair of specimens in each pot. (You can use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to do this job, but use care to avoid disturbing the surviving seedling.) Continue to give your seedlings adequate light and water – water at least twice a week – and ensure the soil stays moist.
After hardening your plants, you’ll be able to set them into the ground. If you’re working with annuals that tolerate transplanting, you can grow seedlings individually in less-expensive 4-inch plastic pots or cell packs left over from last year’s nursery starts – just make sure they’re clean.
Individual pots are the ideal place for annual seedlings not yet ready for the garden due to late frosts, other inclement weather or when you plan to garden in containers throughout the season. Just take the steps shown in the following pictures and described in their captions for whenever you transplant into pots.
Transplanting Seedling in Pots
Transplanting Seedling in Pots - Step 1
Plants are ready for transplant when they begin to crowd each other in their initial tray or pot.
Photo Credit: ©Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Transplanting Seedling in Pots - Step 2
Use a spoon, transplant trowel or popsicle stick to gently lift each seedling with soil around the roots.
Photo Credit: ©Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Transplanting Seedling in Pots - Step 3
Fill a clean pot with sterile potting soil, creating a central depression equal in size to that of the root ball of the plant. Place the plant into the container, then press down the soil to make sure it’s firmly rooted.
Photo Credit: ©Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Transplanting Seedling in Pots - Step 4
Apply ½ a teaspoon of
10-10-10 fertilizer to the soil surface. Always measure carefully to avoid risk of over-application and resulting chemical burn to sensitive young plants. (When it comes to fertilizing, “more” does not mean “better.”)
Photo Credit: ©Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Transplanting Seedling in Pots - Step 5
Immediately water in the fertilizer. Water your little plant daily for the first week before reducing the watering interval to every other day for another week. After two weeks, water whenever soil dries out, but before the plant shows signs of stress (such as wilting).
Photo Credit: ©Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
