3 easy ways to start seeds inside that hate being transplanted

Have you ever been told that certain plants hate being transplanted, go into shock, or just resist the transition? A lot of people think that this means these plants should solely be sown directly in the soil outside. However there are three simple ways to start finicky seeds inside and still transplant them successfully.

Let me first say that it’s important to not just have good pots for transplanting resistive and resentful seedlings, but also the right tools to be as careful as possible!

Related: 4 of the most helpful tools to have in your seed starting toolbelt

What are some examples of plants that don’t like being transplanted?

Here are just a few examples of some seeds and plant families that typically like direct seeding better but could still use a head start by planting inside.

• Corn
• Cilantro
• Cucurbits like squashes and melons
• Beans
• Peas

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Cow Pots or Peat Pots

I personally like cow pots more than peat pots simply because they degrade easier and faster as well as the fact that they’re providing nutrients.

Both of these pots can be planted directly into the soil without disturbing root structures. Some people also cut out the bottom of the peat pots if they are still very rigid upon transplanting.

But both are biodegradable and will allow your plants to ultimately not know they were started indoors and then transplanted.

Mesh Seedling bags

This is a similar concept. They are again biodegradable, however they are much less expensive. I can buy four or five hundred seedling bags for under ten dollars and there are a variety of sizes.

The mesh, in some cases, even allows roots to grow outside of the bag while they’re seedlings making the transplanting process a breeze with little disruption to the plant.

Related: Where to buy the very best seeds for your garden!

Make your own with biodegradable paper

A lot of people use newspaper for making seedling pots they can just plop into the ground without giving their plants transplant shock. I typically use the brown packing paper that comes in some of my boxes {I also use this for sheet mulching or lasagna gardening}.

There is a handy dandy tool that makes it a lot quicker and easier. It’s called a paper pot maker. Ultimately it gives you something to roll around and then a way to pressure close one end, making it a cup.

I actually was able to do something similar with a measuring cup similar to a shot glass and the top cap to my blender. Anything that can help seal the bottom up better than just folding will help the seed starting pots stay together instead of falling apart.

A Note about egg shells

I see this commonly recommended. However, the egg shells are typically too small to support the root structures of most seedlings and the shell itself is unlikely to dissolve in a timely manner.

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