If you live in a northern climate like me, the time when you can plant all of the vegetables on your list is quickly approaching! In Madison, our last frost is usually somewhere around the middle of May. (Although there was the year I lost my 30+ pepper plants to a Memorial Day Weekend frost. Ouch.)
If you’re planning to head out to your garden this weekend with seedlings and trowel in hand, I thought I’d offer a refresher on how to quickly and easily plant your new vegetable plants.
8 STEPS FOR EXPERTLY PLANTING A SEEDLING
Step 1: Clear a space. My beds are always covered in hay mulch to keep down weeds. When I’m ready to plant a seedling I simply clear a small area with my hands.
Step 2: Dig a hole with your trowel and pour a bunch of water in to soak the area. During this step I often add a handful of compost or a balanced fertilizer I use in my garden.
Step 3: Break the root ball of the plant gently to encourage the roots to start to move outwards, not around in a circle like they did in the pot.
Step 4: Tuck the plant into the hole. No need to water again right now, the root ball is soaked from the water you poured into the planting hole.
Step 5: Use a measuring tape to figure out where to plant the next seedling. In this photo I’m planting Brussels sprouts which I plant two rows to the bed, 18 inches between each plant. (Not sure how to space your plants? I have a spacing guide in my Smart Start Garden Planner.)
Step 6: Make sure you stagger your seedlings when planting. This gives them a little more room to grow.
Step 7: Write down the date, vegetable, variety, and number you planted on your garden map in your handy dandy garden binder.
Step 8: {Optional} Cover the seedlings with row cover. I don’t have a fence around this area of my garden, so I use row cover to protect the young plants from grazing rabbits. I also have cabbage moths in my garden, and the row cover prevents them from laying eggs on my Brussels sprouts. Row cover also traps in heat, so my plants will grow a little faster than they would if they were left out in the chilly spring weather.
Planting is one of the most enjoyable tasks in the garden each season! Carve out some time this week to spend some time sinking your hands into the soil.
Have a planting tips to share? Leave it in the comments below. We’d love to hear them!
