Timing is Everything - Patience in Planting

Patience is key in transplanting warm-season seedlings into the ground. Every year, I plant my tomato, pepper, eggplant, squash, cucumber and other warm-season seedlings later and later. That pushes back when I put the seedlings in the ground. I also don't really try to sell those plants until at least mid-May. I always warn my customers about late May frosts that catch gardeners by surprise.

Too many times in the Spring I've gotten too eager to harden-off plants I started inside and cold temperatures have sneaked up on me. This year many people I know bought seedlings early in May and planted them right away. But they regretted it because we got a hard frost the next weekend and almost everyone lost tomatoes and peppers. The first leaves of my potatoes took a hit but thankfully those are coming back.

My advice is to be patient and to realize if you have access to seedlings, wait to plant your tomato-family plants until very late May or early June when there's a seven-day forecast of good weather. If you can shoot for a time when there will be overcast days, some rain and warmth, that's ideal.

Plants get shocked when they are transplanted by things like direct sunlight, dry conditions, and variable temperatures. So be sure to allow seedlings to acclimate in a partial-shade location before putting them in the ground where they'll be in full sun. Once you do plant them, water well every day for at least a week if possible (unless there's rain).