Pricking Out

If you have been busy sowing seeds indoors and they have now all nicely germinated, you might want to think about moving the seedlings on into individual pots or modular trays to grow on for a few more weeks - we call this 'pricking out'. It is important not to do it too early before the seedlings have developed any decent roots and at the same time not too late, as the roots may get tangled together making the job so much more difficult and potentially damaging the young plants. This simple guide will help you with the process if you are new to it.

What the process looks like; a good quality multi-purpose compost is used to fill modular trays, single pots or whatever you choose to use. The well developed seedlings are watered a few hours before pricking out.

Use a dibber, pencil, seed label or similar to gently lever the seedlings to lift them from the seed tray. Try not to snap any roots or damage other seedlings in the tray as you do this. The better the tray was sown, the easier this process is.

Always handle the seedlings by the leaves, if you accidentally damage a leaf at this stage, it can be replaced, however a damaged stem cannot.

Make a hole in the compost of the new container big enough to contain all of the roots without cramping them up too much. Carefully lower the seedling in, still handling by the leaf.

Aim to have the seedlings a little lower in the compost than they were in the seed tray, though try not to over-bury them. A gentle tamp down of the compost with the dibber or similar will be sufficient to firm the seedling in.

Once all of the tray has been filled they can be gently watered in and put somewhere warm and light to grow on for a few more weeks.