How to Transplant Salads

Contents

– Step 1: Prepare the final location for transplanting

– Step 2: Solution 1: Transplant bare-root salad plants from seedlings

– Step 2: Solution 2: Transplant lettuce plants purchased as plugs

– Step 3: Protect transplanted seedlings from slugs

Whether you planted your lettuce or bought plugs, you need to transplant them into the ground. The operation is not very difficult as long as you proceed with care and delicacy.

This practical sheet explains in detail how to transplant lettuce correctly.

1. Prepare the final location for transplanting in the ground

Choose the location

Choose a location with moderately rich, cool and moist soil.

Plan the spacing of your salads

To evaluate the surface that your plantings will occupy, plan the spacing of your lettuces as follows:

– on the same row, 2 to 30 cm between two plants (30 to 40 cm for chicory and escarole);

– between 2 rows, 30 to 40 cm.

Prepare the soil

– Lightly loosen the soil surface on 5 to 10 cm with a hoe or a hook.

– Incorporate compost or a little manure if you did not do so in the fall.

Draw a line

Use a string to make regular lines.

2. Solution 1: Plant bare-root salad plants from the seed

– Water the plants before picking them up.

– With a fork, carefully remove each plant without damaging its fragile roots.

– “Dress” the plant by cutting off a third of the leaves and the root tips with a sharp knife.

– Dig a flared hole with a planter.

– Water the hole thoroughly.

– Slide the plant into the hole, not burying the collar (the point where the leaves and roots meet).

– Tighten the soil around the root ball without burying the leaves.

– Tamp down with your fingertips.

– Water copiously with the apple.

– Proceed in the same way for each plant.

Note: after transplanting, it is typical for young plants to sag a little, especially in hot weather. They will regain strength in a few days if you water them daily until they recover.

2. Solution 2: Transplant lettuce plants purchased in plugs

– First, soak the young plants to be transplanted.

– With a shovel, make a hole only a few centimetres deep.

– Water the hole.

– Place the root ball in the hole, making sure not to bury the leaves.

– Bring back the soil to fill the hole without burying the leaves.

– Tamp down with your fingertips.

– Water copiously with the apple.

– Proceed in the same way for each clump.

3. Protect young seedlings from slugs

How to Transplant Salads — Protect transplanted seedlings from slugs

Slugs are particularly fond of young lettuce plants that have just been transplanted. To keep them away, you can, for example, install slug traps or plant herbs (parsley, chervil) or flowers (nasturtiums, begonias) near your lettuce plants.