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How to plant out vegetable plants

Growing vegetables from a plant is a lot easier than growing from seed, but you will have much less choice in terms of varieties that you can grow.

Most vegetable plants that have been grown in pots can be planted directly into the garden soil when the weather is suitable and the danger of frost has passed. Some vegetable plants such as broad beans, peas and leeks are hardy, so can be planted out earlier.

Whatever you plant, the method is the same, simply follow the steps below:

**Always read the label before planting for the specific requirements of that plant.

 

Step 1

Ideally your plants should be acclimatised to the outdoors for a week or two before planting out. This is called ‘hardening off’.

Place your plants outside during the day and then take them back into the shelter of a frost free greenhouse or conservatory at night. This will help to toughen them up and get them used to being outside.

Water your pots of plants thoroughly, so that the compost is moist. This will make it easier to remove the plants from the pots and reduces your risk of damaging the roots.

 

 

Step 2

Planting in a container or pot

Choose a container or pot that is large enough for the plant once it is fully grown.

Fill the container up with Gro-Sure Container & Basket Compost, or Gro-Sure Easy Containers Compost which has special clay particles in it to keep the soil moist.

 

Planting in the ground

Prepare the planting area by digging over the area first with a garden fork.

Remove all weeds, especially perennial weeds and their roots.

Break up any large clods of soil until the surface is made up of fine crumbs of soil, this is called a fine tilth.

Get some Gro-Sure Vegetable Growing Compost ready to hand.

 

Step 3

Work out the correct spacing for your plants and position them in their planting position so that you can make sure that you are happy with they are planted.

Dig a hole for each plant and loosen the soil at the bottom and on the sides with a hand fork.

Add a small sprinkle of Gro-Sure Planting Magic to the hole for bigger, healthier plants.

 

Step 4 

Take each plant out of its pot and position it in a prepared hole, making sure that the top of the roots is just below the level of the surrounding soil.

Fill in around the roots with your compost and firm in gently.

Water each plant and keep them well watered throughout the growing season.

Tall plants such as runner beans, peas and outdoor tomatoes will need  stakes to support their growth.

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