Are we done with winter yet? I am sure that was on the mind of many of us last Friday when we residents weren't sure whether  we should take out the snow shovel or the hoe.

 

Traditionally the long weekend in Prince George is the planting weekend and with it being a late long weekend it should have been safe to plant outdoors. It just goes to show that you can never guess what Mother Nature has in store for us. I remember some old timers saying that you don't plant frost tender plants outdoors until the snow is off George Mountain.

 

Bedding plants or transplants are a popular and fast way to grow a garden. Many of the flowers require a longer growing season and you want to be able to enjoy the flowers throughout the summer months making bedding plants an easy option.

 

There are also many vegetables that can be grown very successfully as bedding plants allowing you to be able to harvest them much earlier in the season. Some vegetables such as the brassicas (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli), leeks, squash, corn, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, celery, herbs etc. are easily grown by using bedding plants.

 

At home we have started peas and beans in peat pots and transplanted them into the garden and this has worked out very well.

 

To transplant bedding plants into the garden you want it to be as stress free as possible for the plant (and the gardener), so first start off by using strong healthy plants. Avoid the tall spindly plants, rather, chose plants that are strong and stocky, with nice green foliage. The plants should be watered a few hours before transplanting them into the garden.

 

To take the plant out of the container, hold the container upside down and give it a little squeeze to get the plant out. You do not want to pull the plant out by its leaves from the container as you could damage it. If there are more than one plant to a container you will have to gently wiggle and pull the plants roots apart.

 

If there is one plant to a pot, the plants roots can be tightly bound and in this case the roots should be slightly broken apart at the bottom to promote new roots and have them spread out.

 

Place the plant in a weed free spot, in a hole deep enough to bury all the roots but not too deep as you do not want to bury the crown of the plant. Press the soil gently around the plant and then give it a good drink of water.

 

Continue to keep the soil moist for the next few days until the plant has become established. The best time to transplant is during a cloudy day or in the early morning or late afternoon, when there is no hot afternoon sun.

 

By choosing healthy plants, and caring for them properly you will be able to enjoy your garden much earlier!