How to pot up seedlings

Knowing when they are ready is important

- Ruth Hayes

THANK you to our readers who have written in asking for more detailed information about potting on seedlings. It made me realise that while I blithely advise you to move them from their seed tray into pots of compost ‘when they are ready’, not everyone knows what this ‘ready’ stage actually looks like.

When seedlings first appear they produce small, round cotyledons (see panel, right). Shortly after they produce the first ‘real’ leaves that look like smaller versions of the plants’ adult foliage.

By now you should have removed any lid or bag covering the seedlings so they are well ventilated. Make sure their compost is kept damp, watering from below so the compost absorbs the water rather than wetting the leaves.