Transplanting Vegetable Plants

Well it’s been a few weeks now since I last showed what our little vegetable plants looked like. First I showed how to plant the seeds, and then I showed their progress as the seeds came up.  Well, they’ve outgrown their egg carton and over the weekend I transplanted them into styrofoam cups where they’ll continue grow until it’s warm enough to set them out in the garden.

This is what they looked like before transplanting.

The Early Girl tomatoes had grown quite tall, about 3 inches.

And the Celebrity tomatoes are shorter and stockier at only about 2 inches.

The Black Beauty eggplant seems to be a slow grower and had only reached about an inch tall.

But all of them were ready for larger homes. So I got some 16 oz. cups and pierced holes in the bottom with a knife to allow for drainage.

Then I filled each with potting soil right up to the top.

Then I watered the soil with warm tapwater

and allowed them to drain in the sink.

Next, I removed a cell containing 2 tomato plants. I had planted 2 seeds in each cell thinking only one of them might germinate, but they both did so now I have more plants then I need. I then very carefully separated the 2 plants by pulling them apart from the top down.

(In case you’re wondering, I’ve not grown a 3rd hand. Harland graciously offered to take pics of this momentous occasion.)

Next, I dug a hole with my finger about the size of the rootball in a cup,

and popped the plant into the hole.

I packed the soil gently around the plant.

and then watered it in.

Next, I potted the other tomato plant. I only need 2 plants of each variety of tomato, and 2 of the eggplant. I’ll try to find someone to give the other plants to.

Then I transplanted the eggplant.

Then I put the cups at the edge of the sink to drain. Later I inserted each cup into another cup to protect my windowsill from drainage.

Whoa. I’m being watched.

You see folks, Kitty studies everything we do so that when she moves out and gets her own place she’ll be able to cook and clean to transplant tomato plants without asking for help.

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Suzanne

Cattle, corn, wheat, beans, mud, snow, ice, and drought. Plenty of fresh air and quiet. Our life is sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes joyous, but never boring.

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11 Responses

  1. Julie says:

    Thanks! I’m going to need to transplant my mater plants soon, too!

  2. Evelyn says:

    I’m not sure that Kitty has any intention of moving out! LOL

  3. Mary says:

    Great pics Suzanne. All the pics on my blog are from my phone. Sad isn’t it. Can’t wait to get a better camera. I think Smoggle would work on your blog today!!!! Don’t the tomatoes smell great when you mess with them? Makes me hungry and even more anxious for spring.

    Thanks for Continued prayer for Paxton. Mr. Farmer is a fireman and the dept is having a custom helmet made for him and the shield will have his name on it. They are also making him an honorary fireman with a certificate type plaque stating so. We are praying for a miracle. They are a very strong Christian family. Thank you so much Suzanne. You’re a great friend.

  4. Rita says:

    I absolutely love this blog – it’s part of my morning routine. The pictures are great, topics timely and I love your captions. Kitty is indeed learning a lot or at least observing and storing it away.

  5. Kit says:

    We already have our plants outdoors…summer comes early in central Texas. I’m a little worried about how they will fare as we’re in extreme drought conditions. We’re having difficulty deciding if it is more logical to let them go ahead and die and buy produce at the farmer’s market instead of putting more of a strain on our dwindling water resources or just keep watering. It makes me sad. Pray for rain!

    • Suzanne says:

      I saw the other day that you are having a drought already. Hopefully you’ll get rain soon. Thanks for visiting Kit.

  6. Tina says:

    Good luck to all on their gardens. It is already too late to plant here in the Southwest. We are getting temps in the 90’s already. Kitty is such a good helper.

  7. Oh, your tomato plant are doing nicely!!! I love the photo of Kitty watching…so cute!!

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