Remember those guys ^^^ up there?  Those are the Zinnia sprouts that I featured when I wrote all about How To Start Seeds Indoors.  Well, those little babies are growing up fast, and all of a sudden they’re outgrowing their acreage.  See, it’s too cold still to put them outside just yet, but their current container is no longer viable. I began them in a shallow bed of starter mix, and now they need deeper potting soil for their roots to expand.  It’s time to move them, which I just love because it means we get to use the itty bitty minipots!  So cute!

If you find yourself anxious at this prospect, please don’t be.  Transplanting a wee seedling can seem so scary, because they are terribly fragile and ever-so-precious. But it’s a very simple process, quick and painless.  It goes like this:

With a serving spoon or similar, dull-edged tool, gently loosen the dirt around the seedling you wish to transplant.

Carefully work the spoon underneath the seedling, allowing a wide berth around the stem and angling as vertical as possible to allow for maximum depth.  Slowly lift the seedling and surrounding starter mix.

Using your most ginger touch, pick out any other seedlings or seeds that may try to compete for nutrients.  

This is what you want to end up with – your seedling perched within a good-sized, clean clump of starter mix :

Gently slide your seedling clump into a pot that you have already  prepared, filled 3/4 full with real potting soil.  Just let the seed and starter fall off the end of the spoon to rest atop the soil.

Using your fingers add more potting soil, covering the starter mix and the base of the stem – but not too deep!

Lightly tamp down the soil.  Lightly.

Give your new transplant a little watering, and don’t forget to label each pot.  Return it to your south-facing window so that it can continue to flourish.  Then, stand back and marvel at the Ultimate Cuteness of baby plants in tiny pots!

Right now my windowsill garden is off and running, and I’m having a blast farming the winter away!   I just put in some Cilantro and Parsley, and will soon be adding Broccoli and Bok Choy.  I’ve got a cupcake tin filled with Rocket (arugula) :

And some beautiful heirloom Beets (look at those colors!) :

And what about you, my fellow farmers?  What are you growing for spring?

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