Planting Seeds & Starts
Seeds
You can get a jump start on new plants by growing them from seeds indoors. This is a good way to grow edible plants, because there are many more varieties available from seed.
Learn more about growing edibles from seed.
Seedlings or starts
When seedlings (also called starts) are ready to be planted outdoors:
• “Harden” your plants about two weeks before transplanting to the garden. “Hardening” acclimates plants to the outdoor garden by gradually exposing them to lower temperatures and relative humidity.
• Make sure the soil you are planting in is moist, but not too wet.
• Handle the tender seedlings with care.
• Use a knife or wooden plant labels to slip the seedling out of its pot and gently loosen the roots if they’ve become pot bound.
• In general, plant seedlings at the same depth they were in the planting tray.
• Give seedlings some protection from sun and wind for a few days after they’ve been transplanted. Overturned pots or baskets, row covers, or shade cloth will shelter them temporarily while roots settle in.
• Water the transplanted seedlings every third day, or more often if it’s unusually hot, until they become established.
Learn more about planting starts.