It is easy to get impatient this time of the year as you see your seedlings reaching up and showing signs of life, but like babies you need to curb your enthusiasm and show patience and take your time to ensure they grow and thrive.
If you have started the seedlings indoors, as I have, slowly start to introduce them to the real world of searing sun and blowing winds by taking them outside and leaving them in a pleasant spot to get use to their natural habitat, (although maybe not on days when the sun is searing and the wind is blowing). Bring them in each night until they have toughened up ready to transplant.
Likewise, if you are using a hot house or our portable greenhouse, take that off during the day to give the seedlings underneath a taste of fresh air and direct sunlight.
Whan are the ready to transplant? When they have hardened off – firm darkened stems (not soft), if they are in a tray and soft to handle it's too early, as it is also if the roots have not yet started to grow through at the base.
It’s also important to plant a variety of different plants – not all will work and if you have all your carrots in one basket, you may end up with nothing for the season – we planted out carrots late this year and they almost destroyed the juicer they were so woody! Luckily, we had fat and juicy fennel right next to them, so we did not go hungry!
Enjoy!
Peter.