Choose The Right Size Of Tray – There a so many different sizes of plug planting trays available on the market that choosing the right one for your needs shouldn’t be too difficult. If you only have a small garden, then you probably don’t need to buy a ten pack of 500 plug trays. Choose the tray that will provide you will sufficient space for your intended plants. It never hurts to have a few extra slots to overplant your seeds. Not every seedling will grow successfully, so having a few extra of each variety is always a good idea.
Choose Right Depth For Your Plug – One of the most important factors you need consider before purchasing a tray for your plug planting is determining beforehand the size of the container you need. The key is to get a tray that is sufficiently deep for the particular plants that will be planted. Depth can range from 1” to several inches.
Keep Temperature Sufficiently Warm – Your seedlings need to be kept at a sufficiently warm temperature to germinate. Keeping them indoors in a sunlit and warm room is the best option for your garden plugs. Some containers include a cover to help trap some of the warmth the plants require to grow. Avoid drafty locations in your home, and you should have a very successful plant.
Space Transplants According To Recommended Seed Spacing – When your plug plant has reached a mature enough stage to prepare for planting, you want to make sure that your garden area is properly prepped for the transplant. The spacing of the plant is important to its growth. Read the seed packet before planting the transplant to determine the necessary spacing between plugs. Their small size can trick you into planting them too close together.
Harden Plants Before Planting – Plug planting requires a bit of extra care to ensure that the plants survive the transplant. During the transplant stage, the plant is particularly vulnerable to environmental conditions. You are taking the plant from a consistent indoor temperature to a likely cooler and varying outdoor temperature. To help the plant adjust it is important to harden the plant to the new environment. This is done by exposing the plant to their new environment for a couple of hours a day. Increase exposure for a few days before planting the plant in its new home.
Take Extra Care During First Week Or Two After Planting – Once the transplant has been successfully moved outdoors, be careful to tend to the new plant in the first week or two. The plant is still vulnerable, and should be protected from adverse weather and other environmental dangers. Covers or shade netting can be useful depending on the circumstances of the transplant.
