How to transplant your Incredible Edibles Outdoors

With the long days and milder weather ahead of us you may decide to transplant your crops outside the classroom. If you have the space then this is an excellent activity for a sunny afternoon. Remember to ask your green fingered colleagues or the school caretaker if they have planted anything in the plot - to avoid planting over their seeds!

 

Strawberry:

When? At anytime, however if the plant is beginning to/or has fruit visible do not transplant then

 

Space: Keep 8 Inches between plants

 

How? Dig a hole twice the size of the strawberry pot. Gently loosen the peat around the roots. Make sure the soil is nicely broken up. Again make sure the crown of the strawberry plant is above the soil surface.

 

Baby Spinach:

When: It is best to do when the plants are small (less than 3 inches high) or straight after harvesting.

 

Space: Similar spacing to what is required in the trays.

 

How? Dig a hole 6 inches deep. If the plants have been harvested already you can separate them and place them 6 inches apart. If you are planting them in rows, leave 8 inches between rows. If they are young plants, separate them and plant 3 inches apart.

 

Baby Carrot:

When: Do not transplant. If you want to grow baby carrots outside than plant seeds directly outdoors. Do not sow outdoors until mid spring.

 

Space? Sow in rows, thinly spreading the seed. As the plants get bigger thin them out to about 3 inches. If planting in rows, leave 12 inches between rows.

 

How? A few weeks before you want to sow, prepare the ground, choosing if possible a bright site with a sandy soil. Waterlogged, stony sites not advised. If you intend to add fertiliser add one containing low nitrogen. Prepare the beds and leave for 2-3 weeks. This will allow the weed seed present to germinate and grow. Before sowing pick out all the weeds, this is called the stale seed bed method.

 

Lettuce:

When? After 3/4 weeks, when the plant has approx six leaves.

 

Space: Plant the lettuce in 8 Inches by 8 Inches. (This is close together to prevent weeds taking over.) If planting out in the summer and its warm, plant to 10Inches x 10 Inches to prevent diseases.

 

How? Again prepare the soil, lettuce needs a good level of Nitrogen, so if adding a fertiliser use a high nitrogen one. If you have a school compost bin, add some well rotted compost to the soil. Clear the ground of weeds, and gently plant the lettuce seedlings. Dig a big enough hole so the roots will fit in without having to be forced in. Plant the plugs good and firm and try to avoid having any leaves lying on the soil.

 

Potato:

When? It is possible to transplant the potato at any stage but please be extremely careful not to damage to roots as this will damage the baby potatoes which are forming.

 

How? Dig a hole 3 times the size of the bag. Mix in some good compost and give the soil a good dig so it's all loose. Very gently remove the plant from the bag, avoiding any damage to the roots. Fill in the hole, but do not press the soil down too much, try to leave the soil with a lot of air in it, especially if it's a wet site.