PURCHASED PLANTS NEED REPOTTING
A good method of getting the jump on the normal spring season is to grow
portable transplants of recommended varieties.
If transplanting tomatoes into cold garden soil, plants become stunted and
production is decreased and delayed. To avoid this early in the spring,
transplant purchased plants into larger containers such as milk cartons
with drainage holes or regular 6-inch pots. Use a potting mix which drains
well. Mix the recommended amount of slow-releasing fertilizer granules such
as Osmocote® into the potting mix. In addition, fertilize the repotted
transplants weekly with a 20-20-20 water soluble fertilizer (1 tablespoon
in a gallon of water). Keep plants in a location which receives 8 hours
or more of sun daily and move to a protected area when frosty temperatures
threaten. When all danger of frost has passed and the garden soil has warmed,
carefully transplant the plants into the soil. Plants should have developed
a large root system which will support immediate growth and production.
DO NOT OVER WATER! Water the potting soil; forget about the plant. Keep
the mix moist -- not dry -- not wet. Test moisture by inserting your finger
into the mix. If it feels cool and moist, WALK AWAY! Some transplants do
not need additional watering for weeks, depending on potting mix used, after
potting. Overwatering kills more transplants, in soil and pots, than any
other cause.