Of all the stages in growing your own flower and vegetable seedlings, transplanting is one of the most critical. Here are four hints that should increase your rate of success:

First is timing - the seedlings should be at the one or two real leaf stage. Remember that the first leaves to appear are not real leaves, they are the seed leaves or cotyledons, and will dry up as the plant grows. When the first real leaves have fully opened [1] it is time to transplant.

Second is moisture - Fill the containers with a quality potting mix, tamp it down with a few taps on the bench, then set the containers in a tray of water [2] where capillary action will soak the water into the container from the bottom up. When they are wet on top, they are ready for the new seedlings.

Third is technique - Using a small dibble like implement such as a popsicle stick or blunt pencil, open up a hole in the wet soil. Carefully lift the seedling from the seed tray by holding its leaves [3], never the stem, and bury it up to the level of the seed or cotyledon leaves.

The forth and final hint is fertilization. Once the seedling is transplanted, again place the containers in a tray of water, but this time supplement the water with a balanced water soluble fertilizer. After they are fully saturated, place the seedlings under fluorescent lights [4] and watch them grow.