If you’re somewhere where Mother Nature is currently trying to cook you, what do you do to prepare and transplant crops that prefer cooler weather than what you've got? Do you wait? Do you forge ahead and just keep your fingers crossed? Today we’ll talk about how to mitigate the heat when trying to transplant fall crops including the reason why I actually didn’t get any of my plants in the ground last week and, instead, am transplanting now when it’s even hotter. Our heat index yesterday was 125F and I am not worried about my plants. We’ll talk about why. Let’s dig in!
Episode Resources:
Basic Research and Applications of Mycorrhizae - Gopi K. Podila - Google Books
Ep.101 - How to Prepare and What to Grow in Your Fall Garden
Steps For Growing a Fall Garden
Episode 89 - Life. with Karin Velez - The Rural Mindset Podcast | Podcast on Spotify
Just Grow Something with Karin Velez (justgrowsomethingpodcast.com)
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This is Positively Farming media, my gardening friends, to
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another episode of Just Grow Something.
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Thank you so much for being here for another week, and if you're
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new here, thanks for joining us. We're here every Tuesday and
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most Fridays except last week. I took an unexpected week off,
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and that's because we're desperately trying to get garden
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beds prepped and fall crops into the ground.
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And that's what we're talking about today.
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If you're somewhere where Mother Nature is currently trying to
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cook you, what do you do to prepare and transplant crops
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that maybe prefer weather closer to Arctic temperatures rather
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than surface of the sun temperatures?
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Do you wait? Do you forge ahead and just keep
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your fingers crossed? Today we'll talk about how to
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mitigate the heat when trying to transplant fall crops, including
00:00:54
the reason why I actually didn't get any of my plants in the
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ground last week and instead I am transplanting now when it's
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even hotter. Our heat index yesterday was 125
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Fahrenheit, and I'm not worried about my plants.
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We'll talk about why that is. Let's dig in.
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Hey, I'm Karen and I started gardening 18 years ago in a
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small corner of my suburban backyard when we moved to A5
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acre homestead. I expanded that garden to half
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an acre and I found such joy and purpose in feeding my family and
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friends. This newfound love for digging
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in the dirt and providing for others prompted my husband and I
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to grow our small homestead into a 40 acre market farm.
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When I went back to school to get my degree in horticulture, I
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discovered there is so much power in food and I want to
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share everything I've learned with as many people as possible.
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On this podcast we explore crop information, soil health, pests
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and diseases, plant nutrition, our own nutrition, and so much
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more in the world of food and gardening.
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So grab your garden journal and a cup of coffee and get ready to
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just grow something before we dig into transplanting in the
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heat. I want to read the most recent
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five star rating and review for this podcast.
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This comes from Lift Your Life with Laura via Apple Podcasts
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and is titled The Best out There.
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Laura says this is the best gardening podcast out there.
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Karen is so knowledgeable, but also so welcoming and makes you
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feel like you have so much power during your garden journey.
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Well thank you so much for that Laura.
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It's important for me that people feel welcomed on their
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gardening journey, no matter how inexperienced they may be or how
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long they've been gardening. I know I can get a bit sciency
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or even repetitive about certain points at certain times, and so
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I hope that that translates into the fact that I really just want
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every single one of us to have the best information available
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so we can have the most success in our gardens.
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So I'm glad that's translating into being helpful and not
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preachy. And I think this reviewer is
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actually the Girly Homesteader herself, Laura Millett.
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And if you missed it, I was recently a guest on Laura's
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podcast, which I will link to in the show notes.
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Thank you for that review, Laura, I really, really
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appreciate it. And I was also a guest on my
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friend Erica line of Checks podcast The Rural Mindset, which
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I will also link to in the show Notes.
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These were both fun conversations, the one with
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Laura being a little bit about my background and much more
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about specific gardening techniques, where the
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conversation with Erica was definitely more my background,
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how I got to be doing what I'm doing, and lots of stuff that
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I've never even talked about on my own show.
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So I encourage you all to go over and take a listen to both
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of those. OK?
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We've talked a bunch of times about timing, when to start your
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fall transplants indoors based on frostates and Persephone
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period, taking decreasing daylight into consideration,
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etc, etc. So I will link to some episodes
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and articles in the show description for you to peruse on
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that topic at your leisure. And don't forget, if you're on
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my e-mail list, you'll get these links automatically each week
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when the new episodes come out, so you don't have to remember to
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go back and look for them, know about you.
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But I am never sitting at my desk taking notes.
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When I'm listening to podcasts, I'm usually in the gardens or on
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a run or in the gym or making farm deliveries.
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And so I appreciate the show notes being sent to me.
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For the podcasts that I really want to look at the reference
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materials for, you can jump on my e-mail list by heading to my
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website. That's also where you can find
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the full show notes and the articles and links to the few
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YouTube videos that I've managed to get up there this season.
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So we're not focusing on the seed starting portion of this
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today. We're just going to focus on
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what you can do when the weather conditions are not conducive for
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transplanting your fall crops. In most cases, with the
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exception of my more northern gardeners here in the northern
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hemisphere, most of us are dealing with extremely hot
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temperatures, right at the same time that we're supposed to be
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transplanting crops that typically like cooler weather.
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Now, for some of you, in really hot climates, this might mean
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what you're planting for a fall harvest is what we would
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typically grow here in the summer, like tomatoes, for
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example. If you're in a more temperate
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climate, like I am, though, this means crops that like cooler
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weather, like brassicas and leafy greens.
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In both cases, it may still be blazing hot where you are, and
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that doesn't seem like a good time to transplant either of
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those. There are steps we can take to
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prepare our plants before transplanting and things to do
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during the transplant period that will make sure that these
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crops go in on time so we can get them to maturity before our
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first frost or before our Persephone period.
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And if you are a cooler climate gardener, I do have tips for you
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too. I know your situation is a
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little different in that your temperatures can fluctuate
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wildly at this time of the year. I mean, Saskatoon, I think I saw
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you guys are like 18 Celsius one day and then like 31 Celsius a
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couple days later. And Minneapolis, you guys too.
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79 degrees Fahrenheit one day, 99 degrees Fahrenheit two days
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later. So what you try to do in your
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fall garden might be a little different, especially since your
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first frost hits so much sooner. But many of the techniques I'm
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going to talk about will still pertain to you, with the caveat
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that not only might you be dodging some warm temperatures,
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but you'll need to have your frost protection measures at the
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ready sooner rather than later. And that's something else we'll
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talk about here in a couple of weeks.
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And really quick, we're talking transplants on this episode.
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The timing for planting seeds for fall directly in the garden
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can absolutely vary depending on your location and the specific
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plants that you want to grow. That timing is going to be based
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a lot more on your soil temperatures rather than your
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air temperatures, and I'll link to some resources for that
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discussion in the show notes as well.
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So transplanting cool weather crops in hot weather can be
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challenging because these plants are more sensitive to those high
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temperatures. But we often don't have a choice
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of when to plant them because we have a limited window of time to
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get them to maturity. If you need to transplant and
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the weather is unusually warm, here are nine steps to increase
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the chances of successful transplant.
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Plantation ready? Let's go #1 Hardening off.
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Make sure that your seedlings have been properly hardened off
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before transplanting. Now, this involves gradually
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acclimating them to the outdoor weather conditions, which can
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help them to withstand those temperature variations.
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We talk about this a lot in spring transplants, but it is
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just as important for summer transplants to try to take at
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least a week to do this if your plants have been grown indoors,
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2 weeks if you can manage it. This also goes from any
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seedlings that you are buying that are coming from the
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nursery. Now.
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This is why ours didn't actually go in last week.
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They were not ready. I had started seedlings in the
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greenhouse. We had a critter get in that ate
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some of the seedlings. I had to actually get some
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replacements from a local nursery and when I went to go
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pick them up I knew that they had not been hardened off.
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They were coming directly out of the greenhouse, so I wasn't
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going to take the chance and go ahead and put those directly
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into the garden. I have taken this past week to
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harden those transplants off and get them ready to go in the
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ground this week. Now hardening off is going to
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reduce the growth rate of the plant just a little bit, which
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is good because smaller plants are more likely to recover more
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quickly from transplant than the larger ones.
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And hardening off is also going to thicken up the cuticle and
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the waxy layers of the plant and increase its level of
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carbohydrates. So this is going to make the
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plant less susceptible to those environmental stressors and it
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triggers more rapid root development after they are
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transplanted compared to non hardened off plants.
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So you do this by starting with early morning sun, introducing
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more hours of that sun every single day until they can
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withstand the sun and the wind elements.
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Gradually introducing them this way is helping to strengthen
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that cuticle layer, which is also going to help them conserve
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moisture after transplanting. And Speaking of moisture, we
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also want to allow these plants to dry out between waterings
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while we're hardening them off. It's OK for them to get a little
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wilty. I mean we don't want them
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Browning and drying out, but get them used to not looking for
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water to be readily available at all times and this is going to
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acclimate them to drier conditions.
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This also decreases the size of the stomata.
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These are essentially the plant's pores that are
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responsible for transpiration, and it also increases the
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density of those stomata, which means that the leaf
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transpiration rate is going to be decreased, which is slowing
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down the amount of water that is lost.
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And it also improves the way that the plant is able to
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utilize the available water. So don't skip this step in the
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hardening off process, especially if you'll be
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transplanting into hot, dry weather.
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You also don't want to feed the plants while they're being
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hardened off until just prior to transplanting or maybe right at
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transplant time. We do not want to encourage a
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burst of growth until after they're actually in the garden.
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So do not feed your plants while they are in the hardening off
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phase. Now step #2 is preparation.
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We are going to prepare the transplant site in advance.
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You want to make sure that the garden soil is loosened up and
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it has been amended if necessary, adequately watered,
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and check to make sure that it still has good drainage.
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Sometimes our garden soil can get a little compacted during
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the summer garden season, especially if we've been working
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with it a whole lot. So be sure that you have
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loosened it up after you have pulled any dead plants out of
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there or done any weeding, and make sure that it is just
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appropriate for your fall plants to go in #3.
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Is watering. Water the soil really well
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before transplanting. Moist soil is going to help
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those plants establish their roots more quickly once you've
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got them transplanted. Now, we don't want to be
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transplanting into soggy or water logged soil because this
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is going to reduce the amount of airspace that's available in the
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soil and that's where those plant roots are going to go as
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the plant is settling in. So you don't want them
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completely saturated, but you do want moisture to be available.
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And there's another trick to this that I'll talk about here
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in a minute that I absolutely swear by.
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But once we're ready to transplant, you want to make
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sure that you water all of your plants really, really thoroughly
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before bringing them out into the garden to plant.
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So when we come back, we'll talk about the actual transplanting
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process itself, the timing, the procedure, the water
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requirements, and that little hack that I was taught by an old
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farmer years and years ago when I first started growing on a
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larger scale. Step #4, choose the right time
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of day to transplant. You want to transplant during
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the cooler parts of the day when we are transplanting in late
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summer, things, you know, timing like early morning or in late
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afternoon, We want to avoid transplanting during the hottest
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part of the day when the sun is at its peak.
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Now most folks are going to recommend early morning, and I
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agree with this in the spring. But for late summer plantings, I
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go against this and I say late afternoon, preferably right
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around sunset. I go out there a couple of hours
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before the sun goes down. Now I know it is still hot, but
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the heat is waning at that point.
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And once you get the plants into the ground, this gives them
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about 11:50 hours to settle in before the sun comes up the next
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morning. And so they're doing that
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without having to battle the heat of the day.
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If you're planting first thing in the morning, then that plant
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is going to have to be immediately facing those hot
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rays of sun when they're actively trying to establish
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their roots. So they're sort of splitting
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their energy. At that point.
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They're going to have to wilt down their leaves to conserve
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their moisture and they're going to shut down processes to
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conserve their energy. So instead, if you plant them in
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the evening, that gives them time to settle in a little bit
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before they have to face those conditions, and then they're
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able to conserve their moisture for the next day.
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When they do face that really hot sun #5 is to dig proper
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holes. So when you're digging the holes
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for your transplants, you want to make sure that they are
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slightly larger than the root ball of the plant that's coming
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out of the pot. This is going to allow for
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easier root expansion. Make sure that the soil around
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that hole is also loose so the roots have somewhere to go.
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This goes along with not having that soil saturated.
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You want to have a little bit of air space in there where those
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roots can expand to. Now number six is watering in
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your transplants. After you're done transplanting,
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you want to make sure that you water those plants thoroughly.
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This is partly why transplanting in the evening can be
00:14:48
beneficial, because it gives the plants time to establish and
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hold on to that moisture without the stress of the immediate
00:14:55
daytime heat. Now here is the trick that I
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learned from an old timer years ago whose family grew all of
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their own food and who didn't have the ability to run water to
00:15:05
their garden areas on a regular basis.
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And I have used this every year since I learned it.
00:15:11
And I swear by it. Okay, after you dig your hole
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for your transplant and you add whatever amendments or compost
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that you need to to the hole, place your transplant in and
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then fill the hole completely with water.
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Yes, fill it. Fill it to the top.
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I take 5 gallon buckets of water with me into the garden areas
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and a small watering can and I use that to fill that planting
00:15:35
hole to the top with water. Once that's done, I fill the
00:15:40
soil in around the plant roots. Mound up the soil on the top a
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little bit because it is going to settle and then I water
00:15:48
again. This helps that soil to settle
00:15:51
down around the roots and it reduces transplant shock.
00:15:55
Now the plant has the moisture that was around the roots while
00:15:59
it was in its little pot. It has the water that was in the
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hole at transplanting to help it get through the night and into
00:16:06
the heat of the next day. And if you watered the garden
00:16:09
soil while you were prepping the holes, those newly settled roots
00:16:13
will be able to start reaching out to find water in the soil as
00:16:17
the plant gets itself established.
00:16:20
This is all extremely helpful when you have to transplant in
00:16:24
the heat of the summer, especially if you have other
00:16:27
things to be doing and you can't be out there babysitting your
00:16:30
new little plants all day long. Trust me, I swear by this, I
00:16:37
have not had a plant drown yet. #7 is mulch.
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You know me. It's all about the mulch.
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Apply a layer of organic mulch around the transplants.
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OK? This is going to help conserve
00:16:50
that moisture. It's going to moderate that soil
00:16:52
temperature, so it's going to keep the root zone cooler, which
00:16:55
is going to help the plant overall.
00:16:57
And then of course, it's going to reduce the weed competition,
00:16:59
which always comes in to try to suck that moisture away from our
00:17:02
plants. So mulch, mulch, mulch right, #8
00:17:05
is shade protection. Now, this is optional,
00:17:09
obviously, and if you have the option, you could provide some
00:17:13
temporary shade for the transplants during the hottest
00:17:16
parts of the day, especially if you are in an unseasonably warm
00:17:21
period. You can do this using shade
00:17:23
cloth or row covers, or you can just improvise by leaning things
00:17:28
up and over so that the hottest part of the day is blocked.
00:17:31
Anything that will give your plants some protection from the
00:17:36
hottest rays of the sun while they're settling in and while
00:17:39
you're just waiting for the weather to cool down just a
00:17:42
little bit. If you have a popup canopy or if
00:17:44
you have a beach umbrella or something that you can just pop
00:17:47
up out there during the day. Again, this isn't necessary in
00:17:51
most instances, especially if you've properly prepared the
00:17:55
soil and you have made sure there is plenty of water
00:17:57
available. But if the temperatures get
00:17:59
extreme then this is something good to have on hand.
00:18:03
And then finally #9 is to monitor and adjust.
00:18:07
Keep a close eye on your transplants during the first
00:18:11
couple of days following the transplant.
00:18:13
If you notice signs of stress, like excessive wilting that
00:18:17
doesn't subside in the overnight hours, then provide more water
00:18:21
or pop some shade up as needed. Now don't mistake afternoon wilt
00:18:26
with plant dehydration. Afternoon wilt is very, very
00:18:30
common, even when it's not super super hot.
00:18:33
It's how the plants protect themselves from losing too much
00:18:36
moisture during the heat of the day.
00:18:38
The leaves will curl under to reduce the amount of surface
00:18:42
area that is exposed. This is very obvious in large
00:18:45
leafed plants like squash or cucumbers, but any broad leaf
00:18:48
plant will do this. Don't rush out there to water
00:18:52
your plants at that point. We want the plants to do well,
00:18:54
yes, but overwatering can actually cause more problems
00:18:58
during their transition into the garden.
00:19:00
So once the sun goes down, take a peek at those plants again.
00:19:05
They should recover nicely once the heat is off of them.
00:19:08
If they don't then check your soil moisture levels and then
00:19:12
water accordingly. OK.
00:19:15
After your plants have settled you can reduce your watering
00:19:18
schedule. Again.
00:19:19
I am a big proponent of less frequent, more thorough
00:19:23
waterings because they are better for the plant production
00:19:27
and just better for overall plant resilience.
00:19:30
So water deeply to about a six inch depth and then don't water
00:19:34
again until the soil is dry at the two to three inch mark.
00:19:39
Trust me, this is much better for the production of the plant
00:19:42
and its ability to be able to seek out water on its own in the
00:19:47
soil, then watering more shallowly, like every single
00:19:51
day. Now if your projected date to
00:19:55
transplant coincides with incredibly unseasonably hot
00:20:00
temperatures, you might consider delaying transplanting until the
00:20:04
weather cools down a little bit. If you're in an area that has
00:20:08
longer seasons, this might be an option for you.
00:20:11
But if you have to transplant because of timing constraints,
00:20:15
following the tips that we just covered can help mitigate the
00:20:18
challenges of transplanting in hot weather and increase the
00:20:21
likelihood of successful establishment of your plants in
00:20:25
the garden. Prepare your plants.
00:20:28
Prepare your soil. Transplant at an appropriate
00:20:31
time of day. Water, mulch.
00:20:34
Use shade protection if necessary, and then monitor your
00:20:37
plants and make adjustments where necessary.
00:20:40
And don't forget, protect the gardener too.
00:20:43
Don't just make sure that your plants are hydrated.
00:20:46
Make sure that you're staying hydrated too.
00:20:48
Until next time, my gardening friends.
00:20:50
Keep on cultivating that dream garden and we'll talk again
00:20:52
soon. You just finished another
00:20:54
episode of the Just Grow Something podcast.
00:20:56
For more information about today's topic, go to
00:20:58
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00:21:02
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00:21:05
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00:21:07
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00:21:10
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00:21:12
Until next time, my gardening friends keep learning and keep
00:21:15
growing.