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Like everything else, the cost of bedding plants has risen to upwards of 200%. We certainly want to protect our costly investment by providing the best possible growing conditions.

When selecting bedding plants for your flower or vegetable garden, do not look for plants with flowers or vegetable plants that have blooms or small fruit. Transplanting is always traumatic and flowers, blossoms, and young fruit generally fall off of bedding plants to insure survival of the plant itself. Any time a plant is stressed, it will begin survival mode by supplying nutrients to the plant only. Look for strong, hardy plants that are not overly tall and spindly. Plants that have been over-fertilized will grow too quickly, not establishing a strong support base.

Bedding plants are ready for immediate planting in your garden. If you know you will not have time to transplant within four or five days of purchase, wait until you do. Bedding plants are usually already root-bound when purchased. They begin to weaken every day they remain in the six-pack container. Give your plants every advantage against drought, insects, disease, and strong wind & rain.

Prepare the soil by tilling, removing roots, rocks, and other foreign materials. Do not add fertilizer when transplanting bedding plants. New transplants need time to adjust to new soil and weather conditions before adding new growth. Well established plants can be fertilized ten days to two weeks later. Read the fertilizing instructions that came with your plants to ensure you do not kill your plants by applying too much or the wrong kind of plant food. Make a hole in the soil the depth specified by instructions. Water, about a cup full, before covering with soil. Make sure you leave about an inch of stem below the first set of leaves above ground. Gently pack the soil around the plant to ensure that wind or heavy rain will not cause the plant to break or lie down in the soil. Cover with mulch to keep moisture in and weeds at bay.

Check on your plants at least every other day to catch disease and insects that destroy your new plants. Whenever possible, use natural insect killers such as vinegar, mild dish soap, or borax mixed with water and sprayed directly onto plants. These home-made remedies really work, are less expensive, and do not harm plants or the environment.

Learn more about this author, Barbara Stanley.
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