Vegetable transplants -
the easy way to start vegetables

Whether you purchase or grow your own - vegetable transplants provide a quick start in the vegetable garden.

There are many benefits of transplanting vegetables; speed and ease, early start, well developed plants, cope with frosty site by growing inside and planting out later, overcome seed damage by pests ...

There are a few downsides: cost if you buy, some vegetables are set back by transplanting (peas, lettuce ...) but this can be minimised by moving a bigger enough root ball or module so the plant is not disturbed.

Your local garden centre/ nursery will be happy to supply you with young vegetable plants in trays/ modules/ pots that you can transplant into your vegetable garden. This is great if you are starting up, or have a cold spring, or insufficient indoor space to grow your own.

What better - an instant fix of planting!

However, if like me, you enjoy the delight of growing your own plants from seed, nurturing them and then transplanting them when you are ready then go buy the seed. I start many of my vegetables indoors inititially to give them an early start and to overcome problems with birds/ mice/ slugs eating the seeds outdoors.

Grow your own vegetables for transplanting

So long as you have a sunny windowsill, airing cupboard, or propagator plus a cold frame or small plastic greenhouse you can grow vegetable transplants. Many seeds need some early warmth to germinate, check the instructions on the seed packet. Others are less fussy!

Decide on when to sow seeds based on when your plot will be frost free minus germination time (varies 3-14 days typically) and 2-4 weeks growing time.

Sow seed in compost in pots/ modules/ trays depending how many plants you need. Cover seed to the depth instructed, water and allow to drain.

For those that need some warmth cover the pot loosely with a small plastic bag secured with an elastic band and place on a windowsill or in the airing cupboard or propagator.

For all others place pots/ trays in the cold frame/ greenhouse/ under cover protected from the cold air and winds where they can get natural light and the sun's warmth in spring.

For those outdoors, check that they stay moist (not wet) and keep slugs at bay!

For those indoors under plastic check daily and remove bag once germination occurs and ensure plants are in the light.

Grow on until you have 2-4 true leaves at least and outdoor conditions are suitable (frost free).

Transplanting your vegetables

Decide on spacing and have some spare compost handy for planting.

Take your young vegetables with a trowel/ small spade to your plot.

Make holes just bigger than the pots/ root ball of the vegetable transplants at the right spacing.

Transplant vegetables carefully; loosen and take plant from the pot/ tray/ module and place its roots in the hole, so it sits at the right level. Backfill with a mix of compost and loose soil or just soil. Firm soil and then water.

Enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done.

Check plants regularly; keep them moist, provide support if needed and keep them weed and pest free as they grow.

For more information

• on planting vegetable transplants


• or to return to the home of easy vegetable gardening