How to Successfully Transplant Garden Starts in 🔥 HOT 🔥 Weather

Whether we pass by a great plant at the farmers market and snatch it up without looking at the forecast, time gets away from us, or life just happens and we have to put off planting out the garden, it is possible to still get those plants in their rightful home during a hot spell. Follow the tips below for success beating the heat. 

• Water your transplants the day before planting out in the garden. A well hydrated transplant will be less stressed over all.
• If transplanting in the ground, pre-dig the transplanting hole and water it well the day before.
• If possible, try to transplant when it is cloudy outside, or after the sun has moved off your planting spot for the day. This will also lessen the stress on the plant.
• If your plant is in a paper pot, try to carefully remove it while keeping the rootball intact. Biodegradable pots do not break down as fast as they should sometimes and can girdle the plant roots, especially if there was a long delay in planting. Removing at least the bottom portion will guarantee better, faster root expansion if the pot takes too long to break down before the rootball becomes too large. 
• Place the rootball in the planting hole and backfill with loose soil. LIGHTLY firm around the plant base enough for the stem to stand upright as it did in its original container. Do not compact the soil down on the tender roots, or plant the stem lower than it was originally. Some plants, such as tomatoes, can handle having their stem buried but a lot do not like it and it can cause rot to set in. When in doubt, plant the stem at the same soil level it was at in its pot.
• Water lightly, wait until that water soaks into the soil, water lightly again….repeat this process until the planting area is fully saturated. Do not flood your plant in its planting hole with too much water at once. Water, Wait, Water. This ensures water is evenly distributed and soaks into the root zone of the plant.
• If possible, add shade or move your pot to a shady area while your transplant is acclimating to it’s new home. This could be as simple as a couple stakes holding up a paper bag or an old umbrella staked into the ground to shade the plant from the hottest, early afternoon sun.
• Water lightly every day if planting in ground, and possibly twice a day if planting in containers, during warm spells for the following 2 weeks until new growth appears and your plants roots are established in their new home. This will help cool the roots and keep the humidity up until the roots can establish. 

Good luck and happy growing!