Raising plants from seeds part 2 - Pricking out seedlings
This lens follows on from Raising plants from seed
As the seeds grow, they will start to overcrowd each other and will need to be potted on into small pots. This used to be a stage that caused me a few problems. The young seedlings seem so delicate and I was a bit wary when it came to handling them. However, with a bit of practice and some experience with larger seedlings, I soon mastered the technique. This part of the process is known as pricking out, another one of these technical terms that gardeners use. If you are like me, you will be looking at all those seedlings and wondering what you are going to do with all these young plants you have. Don't worry, there is always someone nearby who will welcome some free plants and will usually respond in kind. Swapping plants with other gardeners is a great way to increase the variety of plants you will have available to plant in your garden.
As the seeds grow, they will start to overcrowd each other and will need to be potted on into small pots. This used to be a stage that caused me a few problems. The young seedlings seem so delicate and I was a bit wary when it came to handling them. However, with a bit of practice and some experience with larger seedlings, I soon mastered the technique. This part of the process is known as pricking out, another one of these technical terms that gardeners use. If you are like me, you will be looking at all those seedlings and wondering what you are going to do with all these young plants you have. Don't worry, there is always someone nearby who will welcome some free plants and will usually respond in kind. Swapping plants with other gardeners is a great way to increase the variety of plants you will have available to plant in your garden.
Why you need to do this
The next step to great plants
Pricking out is really necessary part of growing plants from seed. Once your seedlings have germinated, they will need more space to grow a strong root system (strong roots=strong plants). Prick out seedlings as soon as the plant is ready which is usually when the first true leaves emerge. The very first set of leaves is known as the seed leaves, after these a second set of leaves will emerge known as the true leaves. These second leaves will look just like the leaves of the mature plant, so you will easily recognise them. All that you will need
You will need the following items
1. A dibber to lift the seedlings with. You can buy these from garden centres, but a pencil, lollipop stick or even the end of a teaspoon will do.
2. The pots I mentioned in my previous lens. Three inch pots are ideal and you will need one for each plant.
3. Compost. Use the same seed and cutting compost you used for sowing the seeds.
4. Some water.
1. A dibber to lift the seedlings with. You can buy these from garden centres, but a pencil, lollipop stick or even the end of a teaspoon will do.
2. The pots I mentioned in my previous lens. Three inch pots are ideal and you will need one for each plant.
3. Compost. Use the same seed and cutting compost you used for sowing the seeds.
4. Some water.
Step 1: get ready
Prepare in advance
First, prepare your pots.
1. Fill each pot with the compost up to about a half inch from the top.
2. Tap the pot down on a hard surface to settle the compost, top up if necessary.
3. Use the dibber to make a hole in the centre of the compost large enough to take all the root of the seedling.
1. Fill each pot with the compost up to about a half inch from the top.
2. Tap the pot down on a hard surface to settle the compost, top up if necessary.
3. Use the dibber to make a hole in the centre of the compost large enough to take all the root of the seedling.
Step 2: Lifting the seedlings
from tray to pot
Lifting the seedlings from the tray
Note: it's important that, once the seedling has been transplanted, its seed leaves should be just above the surface of the compost
1. Select a good strong seedling
2. Hold it by the seed leaf and use your dibber to gently tease it out from the compost. You will probably find that the roots have tangled with its neighbouring plants, so go gently.
3. Rest the roots on the dibber and transfer the seedling to the pot.
4. Drop it into the hole made previously, and then insert the dibber into the compost a bit to the side of the seedling.
5. Keep a hold of the seed leaf throughout and gently ease the dibber across to the seedling with just enough pressure to firm it into the compost.
Note: it's important that, once the seedling has been transplanted, its seed leaves should be just above the surface of the compost
1. Select a good strong seedling
2. Hold it by the seed leaf and use your dibber to gently tease it out from the compost. You will probably find that the roots have tangled with its neighbouring plants, so go gently.
3. Rest the roots on the dibber and transfer the seedling to the pot.
4. Drop it into the hole made previously, and then insert the dibber into the compost a bit to the side of the seedling.
5. Keep a hold of the seed leaf throughout and gently ease the dibber across to the seedling with just enough pressure to firm it into the compost.
Step 3: settle them in
the final hurdle
Nearly there
1. Water your seedlings in gently. If you use a watering can, make sure it has a fine rose. Alternatively, pour water onto the surface of the compost using a glass or a cup.
2. Now place the plants somewhere warm and sunny. Keep an eye on them to make sure that they don't dry out or get scorched if the sun gets too hot.
1. Water your seedlings in gently. If you use a watering can, make sure it has a fine rose. Alternatively, pour water onto the surface of the compost using a glass or a cup.
2. Now place the plants somewhere warm and sunny. Keep an eye on them to make sure that they don't dry out or get scorched if the sun gets too hot.
Advice from Monty Don
Pricking out seedlings
I recommend this video demonstration covering the art of pricking out.
PS you don't have to log in or join, just scroll down once the page opens.
PS you don't have to log in or join, just scroll down once the page opens.
- Seeds - pricking out seedlings video project | How to | Projects | BBC Gardeners' World
- Learn how to prick out seedlings with BBC Gardeners' World expert, Monty Don's comprehensive video guide.
Organic Gardening E Books
more useful information can be found here
Some seedlings that others have grown
What we are aiming at
Great offers on pots at E Bay
Buy in bulk and save in the long run
Buying single pots can be expensive. These are ideal for potting on your seedlings.
Further reading available from Amazon
These may help you as well
I have read a few books by alan and have also watched all his tv shows. He makes it all seem wonderfully straightforward
Tell everyone about your success with raising plants
Time to show the world that you did it
-
-
Tracey_M
Nov 24, 2008 @ 3:32 am | delete
- Argur, I'm going to give this a try but I've had as much success with plants as I've had with goldfish :) I love to have fresh basil at home but everytime I buy one from Tesco it dies, no matter what I do. I've gone through five and have now given up :(
-
-
-
tdove
Oct 31, 2008 @ 9:53 pm | delete
- Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory!
-
-
-
Augur
Oct 27, 2008 @ 6:31 pm | delete
- Thanks for the compliment and for the great idea. I think i feel another lens coming on.
-
-
-
ElizabethJeanAllen
Oct 27, 2008 @ 6:25 pm | delete
- With the cold weather moving in, I moved my herbs inside. I'll be starting some new ones soon. As you're good with plants and seeds, have you considered showing people how to set up minature herb gardens for Christmas gifts?
Great lens
Lizzy
-
-
-
Oct 26, 2008 @ 11:11 pm | delete
- its good start:)
-
Blog Posts from Google
- Herb Gardening: Starting Herbs From Seed and Transplanting
- Herb recommendations for both seed starting and transplanting will be provided here. When starting plants from seed, some require light and some do not for germination, this information is usually also included on the seed pack. To start a seed indoors ...
- Seeds for heirloom tomatoes can be gathered and saved or bought
- That explains why seeds from these hybrids can't produce a mirror image of the parent plants. If you plant a Better Boy hybrid tomato plant this year and then later try to plant seeds from those tomatoes, the seeds will not produce tomatoes that are ...
- Proposal to 'sell' India's plant genetic resources draws ire
- The improvements undertaken by the MNCs can be incorporated in Indian plant varieties and the seeds can be transferred to the national seed corporation to be made available to farmers at a cheap cost," he said. But several groups and noted persons ...
- The Veggie Girl: Radish ramblings
- Wild radishes grew prolifically along roadsides and in fields during my childhood, and their slender seed pods provided my friends and me with a handy snack when we were out and about. Some say these invasive plants are ancestors of today's cultivated ...
by Augur
Hi, I'm Augur and I have been successfully gardening organically for the last ten years. Not only can you learn a lot about organic gardening from... more »
- 5 featured lenses
- Winner of 6 trophies!
- Top lens » Fly Fishing Nymphs
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- Flowering Shrubs for Shade Flowering Shrubs for Shade
- Gardening with Grandma Gardening with Grandma
- Roll N Grow Flowers Just Water and Flowers Grow Roll N Grow Flowers Just Water and Flowers Grow
- How to Grow Runner Beans How to Grow Runner Beans
- Beginning from Seeds Beginning from Seeds
- Gardening Tips by Glorious Confusion Gardening Tips by Glorious Confusion
