Beginner gardening: how to transplant your young seedlings?

You've carefully sown your seeds in pots or trays, and now tiny shoots are appearing? Congratulations! But for them to grow into beautiful vegetables or flowers, an essential step awaits: transplanting.

Transplanting involves moving a young plant into a larger pot or directly into the ground to give it more space and nutrients.

But when and how should you do it? Which location should you choose? What tools should you use? Follow this tutorial to successfully transplant your plants in 5 easy steps and ensure they thrive.

Why transplant young plants?

Transplanting is essential for:

Providing more space for the roots and preventing them from becoming tangled.
Strengthening the plant by stimulating its root system.
Promoting vigorous growth with access to more nutrients.

What happens if you don't transplant?

The plants remain weak, fragile, and their growth slows down.
They grow poorly due to a lack of nutrients.
The roots lack space and become tangled.
They become more susceptible to diseases and moisture.

Essential tools for transplanting plants

For potting

Larger pots, with drainage holes at the bottom.
Light and well-draining compost.
Clay pebbles (if transplanting into a large final pot).
A trowel or small shovel.
Water (preferably rainwater).
A spray bottle to gently moisten the young plants.

For transplanting into the ground

A trowel or small shovel.
Rainwater for watering.
A spray bottle or a watering can with a fine rose to water the young shoots gently.

5 steps to successfully transplant your plants

Step 1: Know when it's time to transplant

Signs that it's time to transplant:

The young plants have at least two true leaves (those that grow after the first germination leaves, called cotyledons).
Roots start to emerge from the drainage holes, a sign they need more space.
Growth slows down because the plant is cramped.

When is the best time to transplant?

For indoor transplanting: You can transplant at any time of year, as soon as the plants have several true leaves or seem cramped in their pots.
For outdoor transplanting: After the last frost, usually after mid-May in most regions (or when nighttime temperatures exceed 10°C).
Vegetable garden crops: Generally, tender vegetables (tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, etc.) are transplanted from March-April under cover and from mid-May outdoors.

plants ready for transplanting — *Young tomato plants ready to be transplanted into pots (left) or directly into the ground (right).*

Step 2: Acclimatise plants before transplanting outdoors

If your plants have grown indoors or under cover, they are not used to temperature fluctuations, wind, or sunlight. A sudden change could weaken them.

How to acclimatise a young plant before transplanting it into the ground?

Day -7: Take the plants outside for a few hours each day, in a sheltered spot away from wind and direct sunlight.
Day -4: Gradually increase the time spent outdoors (an extra hour each day) and begin exposing them to sunlight.
Day -2: Leave them outside all day but bring them in at night.
Day 0: Plant them in the ground in the evening or on a cloudy day to minimise stress.

young tomato plants placed outdoors to acclimatise — *Before transplanting tomatoes into the garden, the plants are placed outdoors for a few hours to acclimatise.*

Step 3: Prepare young plants before transplanting

Water the young plants a few hours before transplanting to make them easier to remove.
Gently remove the plant from its pot or tray, holding it by the base (avoid pulling on the stem).
Carefully loosen the roots if they are tangled.

Gently remove the plant from its tray — *Carefully remove your young plants from their seed trays.*

Step 4: Transplanting

In pots:

If the plant is to remain permanently in a pot: Place a layer of drainage at the bottom of the pot: clay pebbles or gravel.
Fill the pot with rich, well-draining compost, leaving enough space for the plant's root ball.
Place the root ball, leaving about 1 cm of space between the pot's rim and the top of the root ball.
Fill the gaps with compost, then lightly firm around the plant to ensure good root contact.
Place the pot in a bright spot but avoid harsh sunlight for the first week to help the plant adjust.

transplanting young tomatoes into pots — *Transplanting tomatoes:* *young plants, first sown in seed trays, are transplanted into biodegradable pots. In a few weeks, they will be transplanted again into the ground.*

In the ground:

Using the trowel, dig a hole about twice as wide as the plant's root ball. Weed the area and remove stones.
Add a little compost to the bottom of the hole to enrich the soil.
Lightly moisten the bottom of the hole before placing the plant.
Place the root ball in the hole. The base of the stem should be level with the soil.
Backfill the hole with garden soil or compost and lightly firm.

transplanting lettuces into the ground — *Transplanting lettuces into the garden*

Step 5: Post-transplant care

Water thoroughly immediately after transplanting to moisten the roots well.
In the following days and weeks, water regularly but avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.
Use rainwater at room temperature to avoid thermal shock.
A slight wilting is normal right after transplanting. Usually, plants need a week to recover.
Fertiliser: After 2-3 weeks in the garden, add a little compost or natural fertiliser (nettle tea, banana peel infusion).

Tip: Add mulch (straw, dead leaves, wood chips) to reduce water evaporation and protect roots from temperature fluctuations.