This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Transplantation Shock in Vegetables
GemmaJF
Posts: 2,286
in Fruit & veg
Hi to all,
I've used Miracle Grow for years on flowers to reduce transplantation shock. Usual dose an hour before, no drooping and they get off to a good start.
I don't think it is safe on food plants to use. I've tried several different liquid fertilizers and feeds safe for veg, but they always droop and need a good few hours to recover after pricking out, potting on or planting out. I think this is bad as the plants never seem so vigorous after the experience or take a long time to get going again. I always wet them well first, feed an hour before and water in well. So I think it is a reaction to being moved rather than anything I'm doing wrong?
So a safe product that reduces transplantation shock in veg please?
0
Posts
This is strange as when ever I have pricked out vegetable or flower seedlings into larger pots I always think that they look much healthier and happier by the next day.
Do they droop initially though Barry? This is what I'm trying to avoid.
I don't see any drooping after transplantation with my flowers I transplant due to using the miracle grow. Always with veg though where I as far as I know it is not a safe product to use.
They may droop initially but they soon recover and grow on stronger in a short time in fact I am always amazed on how well they respond to pricking out into a larger container.
I'm with you Barry, it is not like my veg don't recover eventually. It is probably being picky but as far as I know if you can avoid the initial droop it is better for the plant and they will be even more perky in their new pots.
I transplant them in their original soil/compost and shape to avoid transplant shock. It doesn't distrub the roots and i have never had it yet. I generally repot in the evening, put it in the greenhouse then outside the following day.
Monty showed a way of repotting on GW a few years ago and I follow that to the letter now.
I add some bonemeal to the compost/soil I am moving them to which is supposed to aid root growth, but they always droop for a bit at first.
I guess the droop is probably a reaction to being handled - how about if you use fibre pots or toilet roll tubes for the first pots so you can transplant by just dropping the degradable pot directly in a suitable hole? I haven't tried this yet but I was planning to do it with my tomatoes this year (will be pricked out of the seed tray in the conventional way and then into fibre pots).
Do you water them with cold water? That will make them sulk and droop until they warm up again
Thanks for all the suggestions. Plenty of things I can try there.
I was after a product, as it never ever happens with the flowers, so all things being equal if I'm getting that right I thought there must be a product that will cover it for the veg. Digging round I found out low nitrogen high-phosphorous fertilizer is recommended as a pre-treatment. So shall give some a try and see if it works.
Always transplant veg in the evening. Puddle in with water. They are fine by the time the sun gets up next day.