We hope you are feeling the stirrings of spring right now, Reader.

Right now for us, something small but important is happening.

Seedlings are outgrowing their trays.

It is one of the most exciting moments in gardening.
The moment when a tiny plant says: I’m ready for more space.

And this is where many gardeners pause.

Do I move it now?
Is it too early?
Will I kill it?

So here is the simple rule we follow on our farm.

Transplant when the seedling has two to three inches of growth and a few true leaves.

Not when the calendar or seed packets says so.
When the plant tells you.
I mean keep it indoors if the temps outside are too cold, but it may need more room

A few small practices make a big difference:

• Harden seedlings first by letting them spend a little time outdoors before planting.
• Transplant before a rain if you can so nature helps you water them in.
• Plant closely using hexagonal spacing so leaves eventually touch and shade the soil.

That last one surprises people. But when plants grow close together, their canopy protects the soil from evaporation and helps build healthier soil over time.

If you'd like a deeper walkthrough, I wrote a step-by-step guide here:

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It’s also a chapter in our book Permaculture Gardening for Everyone because getting those transplants successfully established is one of those quiet skills that makes the garden beautiful and productive.

A lot of what Dave and I have learned regarding transplanting and spacing seedlings has come from the author, John Jeavons. (More about him in the blog). I am really excited because every Saturday this month, he is teaching me remotely. It's hard to transfer all that I'm learning to you via email, Reader. There's so much! But we hope to share some of his wisdom on our next webinar.

On Tuesday, March 17, Dave and I are hosting our next live workshop:

Soil Fertility, Berries, and Fruit Options

Because once seedlings move into the garden, the next question becomes:

What kind of soil are they growing in?

We’ll talk about building fertility naturally and choosing fruit crops that thrive in backyard gardens.

One of our friends was remarking how right now, optimism for growing is at its peak. And rightly so. Let's hang onto that hope and make it grow in our gardens as well as in our souls.

Grow abundantly,
Nicky