Growing on to garden-size plants may take only a week or it may take several months depending on species. It is best to set your transplants out before they begin to bloom, since a young garden plant needs its energy to grow roots, not flowers. If your transplants set flower buds or bloom before planting out time, disbud them or cut off the blooms. It may seem like a desecration at the time, but your plants will be much happier when you set them out.

Plants are definitely ready for the garden when their roots grow to the bottom of their containers, but you can hold most types up to two more weeks before planting, if you must wait for suitable planting weather. Indoor plants may be planted into larger pots, baskets or containers anytime they are at the proper size, with roots growing to the bottom of their pot or their growing tray. A general rule of thumb is to set plants out when they are two to four inches tall, whether in the garden or in a container.

 Hardening Off!

Transplants that have been raised indoors are soft, and must get used to sun, wind and rain. It is best to let them ‘harden off’ gradually for several days before planting in the garden.

Move your trays or flats of transplants outdoors to a sheltered, shady area such as a porch, cold frame or under a tree. If you have a slug problem, do not place your trays on the ground. Keep them well watered. If they wilt anyway, bring them back inside until they perk up again, and try again the next day, perhaps for a shorter period of time. Be sure to bring them inside each evening, especially if it gets chilly at night.

After two or three days, the leaves and stems should be stronger. Move the transplants to a spot where they will have a half day of sun for a couple of days, then give them a full day of sun for a couple of days, always increasing the exposure gradually. When they are tough enough to go through the entire day without wilting, they are ready to plant in the garden.