When you’re growing seeds from seed trays or seed pots, there will come a time when these need to be transplanted into a larger growing space. This is done so that your plants have enough space to fully develop healthily and have better access to the nutrients that they need. Though this may seem like a relatively straightforward process, there are several important steps to bear in mind to ensure that this process is carried out in the safest way possible for your seedlings. So, read on to find out how to prick out seedlings with our expert tips.
Do My Seedlings Need to Be Pricked Out?
Some seeds are better suited to direct sowing, whilst others require a little nurturing prior to being placed in their final growing space. Reading the packet of the seeds you are growing is the best place to start, as it will tell you the recommended time to sow and the recommended environment, such as the temperature and spacing needed. It is possible to work around using the recommended guidelines given to you, but you may not achieve the best germination and success.
When to Prick Out Seedlings?
Pricking out is an essential part of growing plants from seed. The aim of pricking out is to allow enough space for strong root systems to establish. Many types of seeds benefit from this process, including vegetable seeds, flower seeds, and fruit seeds. But, how do you know when to prick out seedlings?
You are ready to start pricking out once your seedlings have reached a size where they have enough of a root to gently tease out of the soil. Another way to know when it is the right time is when your seedlings have a true leaf following their first seed leaves. If it’s time to prick out your seedlings, take a look at our step-by-step process below to learn the best method to do so.:
- Preparing the trays and pots
- Levelling the compost
- Transferring from the sowing tray
- Planting your seedlings
- Firming in the compost
Preparing the Trays and Pots
Start by preparing your seed tray or pots for the seedlings. Fill the tray or pots with fresh, good-quality potting compost to give the seedlings the best start. Ideally, the tray should be at least 3 inches deep to allow for root growth.
Levelling the Compost
Level out the garden compost so the seedings are of equal depth, but without adding too much pressure to compact the compost. The compost can be firmed in more when the transplanted seedlings have been placed. At this point, we recommend gently watering the soil, not so it's saturated but so it's moist enough to hold its shape when making indents for the transplanted seedlings. A fine mist will do.
Transferring from the Sowing Tray
You can now make a start on pricking out your seedlings by gently prising them out from your initial sowing tray. You can purchase tools to help handle the roots. However, a pencil or something similar will do if you don’t have one to hand. You should keep the seedlings you are transferring on a piece of paper. It’s not necessary, but it can help to reduce soil disturbance and make them easier to pick up. It’s important that this stage is done with the utmost care and done one at a time to ensure the root system remains intact. There are some fundamental don’ts here to bear in mind when pricking out seedlings. You should never hold a seedling by the stem. Instead, you should always hold a seedling by its true leaf, not the first seed leaf.
Planting Your Seedlings
At this stage, you can start placing your seedlings into the prepared seed tray or pots. Using your finger or tool, make a small indent in the prepared compost big enough to plant the seedling. Then, plant the seedlings in the tray, and continue this process with your other seedlings until the tray is full or you have the desired number of plants. If not all the seedlings are going to be used, it goes without saying that you should choose the strongest ones to grow on when pricking out your seedlings.
Firming in the Compost
Once transplanted, be sure to firm in the compost to give some stability to the roots. Water in well and keep the larger pots and trays labelled with garden plant labels. Your young seedlings will now have enough space to establish the stronger root systems needed for the next stages of growth!
Gardening Advice from D.T. Brown Seeds
Now that you know how to prick out seedlings in the best way, your plants are all set to grow strong and healthy from here forward. You can find many more tips for keeping your plants and your garden in their best condition with all of our expert advice in our gardening blog.
We’re also home to a range of gardening supplies to get you stocked up, with many vegetable garden seeds and plants, flower seeds, flower plants, and more with plenty of varieties to choose from. If you’d like to ask us about our selection, feel free to get in touch with any questions. A member of our team will be more than happy to help.
