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Vegetable Gardening

Should I transplant my seedlings or not?

7 years ago

Hello

I purchased some seedlings from a nursery last weekend and have been hardening them off for a week now. The kale have 2 true leaves and the bok choi has several true leaves.

I Will be away all week and was wondering if I can put them into the ground now. Temps are above freezing and I have other seeds already growing around the garden. I read that kale Should be transplanted when it has 4 true leaves. Am I jumping the gun or should I just go ahead and transplant?

Thanks

Featured Answer

luaygh
Original Author

7 years ago

My husband will be on watering duty. So they will be looked after in my absence.

Comments (8)

digdirt2
7 years ago
If you are going to be gone all week I'm not sure which gives the best chance of survival - in their containers or in the ground. How will they be watered? Chances for rain?

Dave
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digdirt2
7 years ago
Then I would do whichever will be easier for him to care for, whichever he prefers. Plant them if they are well hardened off and he knows what to watch for and do with newly transplanted plants OR leave them in their containers as long as he knows not to over-water them.

dave
luaygh
Original Author
7 years ago
Dave, thanks for the advice. Seems like they won't suffer if they spend another 5 days in their cellpack.
jnjfarm_gw
7 years ago
You first say you will be away all week which leads us to believe no one will be watching them. then you say some one will be there to water them. If you want good replies, don't mislead people!
luaygh
Original Author
7 years ago
The forum police are on patrol! I will make sure to be clear next time.

My question was more about whether or not it was a good idea to keep them in the cell pack for another week or to go ahead and transplant sooner than prefferable. I didn't mention watering because it was a non-issue to begin with.
digdirt2
7 years ago
"My question was more about whether or not it was a good idea to keep
them in the cell pack for another week or to go ahead and transplant
sooner than prefferable."

In that case it may well depend on what size cell pack they are in and long they have been in the size. Especially the bok choi that has so many true leaves. Can you lift one out of the cell pack and see how root bound they are? If so. is it possible to move them into slightly larger containers before you leave so that they can better survive until the proper planting time?

As a very general guide, when buying cell packs well before transplanting time it is always beneficial to get them out of the cell packs and into small individual pots.

Dave

PS: when dealing with questions about plants that will be apparently un-attended how they will be watered is always the first question asked. So if that isn't going to be an issue its best to provide that info up front :-).
Daniel Baldwin
7 years ago
I would recommend transplanting then they are about 3.5 to 4 in. tall is they are in six pack cells. Here is a video of how I transplant mine and what size they are if you are interested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaAGfTMpOLo

At some point they will stop growing so you can delay their maturing by leaving them in the pots. As long as they are watered you can leave them in the posts and they should be fine.

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