This week, I received the following email from reader Brick:
Kevin, you're extremely good looking. Are you single? My phone number is 212-xxx-xxxx. Also, when you winter-sow seeds, do the roots get entangled in their gallon-size milk or water containers? If so, how do you separate and transplant the seedlings?
Well, Brick, let me answer your most important questions.
The roots of winter-sown seedlings do eventually become entangled, and even root-bound. But these seedlings, which were born outdoors, are tougher than you might imagine. They are also itching to grow! No harm will come to the plants if you sever their roots at transplanting time.
Here are a couple of ways to separate and transplant the seedlings:
First, let's look at some Brussels sprouts seedlings I winter-sowed one year. To remove these 5 tall youngsters from their milk jug quarters, I simply held one hand against the soil, and then inverted the jug.
I quickly inverted the clump again, so that the seedlings were standing in an upright position.
Then I pried the seedlings apart...
And planted them individually in a raised bed.
Later that season, the Brussels sprouts greeted me with...of all things...Brussels sprouts.
Here's another way to remove seedlings from a milk jug: Cut off the front side of the "greenhouse"...
...And slide the seedlings out, all in one clump.
Then break the young plants apart, as described earlier. And don't worry -- you will not harm the plants! Remember, these babies were not coddled indoors under "grow" lights. They were born outside, and subjected to snow, ice, sleet, and driving rain. They are tough as nails.
And what about extremely crowded seedlings, such as the creeping thyme pictured above?
Here again, just cut off the front of the jug, and give the clump a shove.
Then slice the seedlings lengthwise and crosswise, as if you were dealing with a pan of My Very Serious Brownies. Plant the little squares, and then thin them out as they grow.
In all my years of transplanting winter-sown seedlings, I don't think I've lost a single plant. So be brutal when you separate the seedlings. They can take it.
Was this post helpful to you? You can let me know by leaving a comment. As always, I love hearing from you.
More winter-sowing features at A Garden for the House:
Winter-Sowing 101: The Basics
How To Turn A Milk Jug Into A Greenhouse
What To Winter-Sow...and When
Don't miss anything at A Garden for the House...sign up for Kevin's email updates!
↧