Advice & Tips from Golden Days Garden Centre

How To ...

How To - Pricking Out Seedlings

	1. Fill a seed tray or modular seed tray with a good quality seed and seedling compost. I prefer a soil-based compost but this isn't essential.
	2. Carefully knock the plug of young seedlings from their existing tray or pot, being careful not to damage the young roots.
	3. Gently break the clump apart, using your fingers and, if necessary, a small fork, dibber or other small tool.
	4. Make a hole in one of the modules of the new tray with a dibber or even a pencil.
	5. It's often said that seedlings should be picked up by their cotyledons (seed leaves) but I find that if you are gentle, it's easier and better to use the stem as this gives more control.
	6. Gently push the roots into the planting hole and firm around with your fingers and the planting tool. Be sure not to let the young plants dry out – but don't flood them either!
	7. Some very tiny seedlings, especially lobelias, shouldn't be separated into individual plants.
	8. Plant them out in a complete, intact clump of several seedlings to produce a strong and reliable little group which should be treated as if it is a single plant.

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