Volunteer Growers Help - Growth stages and what needs doing 
Just showing through> Double Sets of Leaves> - TRANSPLANTING -  Multiple Leaves> Root Pruning & Thinning> Mature seedlings>

I have some tubes with several seedlings and others with none! Before discarding excess seedlings check with your co-ordinator, also taking into account other varieties that may have a poor strike rate; is the grower willing to have more of one variety than they ordered to replace others that are missing. Thinning can take place later, at this stage just make sure you  have one (or two) plants in each tube.

1. Select the tubes with seedlings to be moved.

Loosen the soil on the tube they are to be removed from, squeeze the tube from opposite corners. Use a something like a teaspoon handle to carefully lift the seedling out. A clean saucer can be a usefull place to put those removed. If necessary empty the whole pot out onto a clean dinner plate to separate the seedlings out. You will discover how  long the roots can be for such a small set of leaves. Make sure they are not left to dry out before repotting.  One example of root length >

2. Make sure the seedling roots will fit the tube
 

3. Empty half the soil out, leaving one side empty.


4. With the seedling roots carefully all the way down, backfill the hole.

Just showing through> Double Sets of Leaves> - TRANSPLANTING -  Multiple Leaves> Root Pruning & Thinning> Mature seedlings>
5. If necessary, gently ease the seedling up in the tube to settle the roots and finish filling the tube.

Do not pack the soil in to tightly.

6. The finished product.


 If you have some tubes with many seedlings and others with none, for the short term look to have up to two seedlings in opposite corners of each of the tubes, so that if some moves are not successful you have some left for a second attempt. Before discarding excess seedlings check with your co-ordinator.

A week or so later remove the excess plants. You will need to continue to check each plant for roots that may be coming out of the bottom of the pot.
See root pruning >

<Back to Previous Page<        >To Next Page>