![]() They begin to feel what life outside the glasshouse is like. About a week before transplanting, we move the plants to a cold frame or a sheltered area outside with protection from wind and heavy rain or hail and protection in case there is a late frost. We water long and deep and then let them dry out. ![]() We spread the transplants out so that they have space around each one and turn up the fans so they strengthen their stems. First we start to open the doors wide early in the morning and really let the coolness in. We like to try and minimize thwarting a plants true desire to grow by giving it time to acclimate to life outside the ‘nursery’ or glasshouse. If you are thrust into the ground without a gentle transition period, your plant may experience ‘Transplant Shock!’ Imagine that you have been living the good life - catered to with regular watering, a constant, optimum growing temperature, just the right amount of space, good air flow, living soil. Thus time spent learning about and support living soils is a life long endeavour for which the reward is healthy plants and animals and nutrient dense, flavour filled food. All of these keep living soil dynamically changing, encourage the innate intelligence of the ecosystem and allow plants the opportunity to guide their own health. As biodynamic farmers, we support humus building and maintaining soil structure, strong soil biology - bacterial and fungal, and plants photosynthesizing. And plants relationship to living soil changes over the course of a plants life - plants need different minerals at some times than at others. Soil biology can unlock so many of the subtle connections occurring in living soil. Soil tests can be useful - numbers are interesting and can be illuminating BUT looking strictly at soil chemistry is limiting. ![]() In spring, the green manure is chopped up, incorporated and we apply prepared biodynamic 500 again to enhance the soil microbes and help convert this organic matter into the stable humus which will feed our tomato plants through the season. Once this germinates, we apply prepared biodynamic500 a soil activator filled with beneficial bacteria The green manure grows through the winter. We may add slow release soil amendments such as rock dust ahead of the green manure and also may fortify with well aged manure to ensure the healthiest, robust green manure we can grow. In April, we sow an Autumn green manure which may include oats, rye, fava beans, lupin, white clover, Persian clover, Dunn peas, and vetch where the tomatoes will be planted next season. This really deserves a whole post - as we start preparing for our tomato season the Autumn before our tomatoes are transplanted. In the meantime, get started preparing now! Here are the steps we use for transplanting our field tomatoes! So unless you have a sheltered, warm spot or a polytunnel, even though these Spring days are warm and gorgeous, we suggest waiting for those warmer nighttime temperatures! We thought that earlier in the ground would mean earlier harvest. Resist the urge to transplant early and wait when the night time lows raise to a minimum of 13C. We have seen a direct correlation in transplanting too early, when the nighttime temperatures are still in the single digits and so-so harvests. ![]() Over the last decade, we have weighed our harvest and kept track of the temperatures and our transplant date. The time is drawing near - with each sunny day the soil warms more and the clear nights have begun to creep into double digits! TOMATO (and other warm season crops) TRANSPLANT DAY is approaching - so full of expectation for the harvest.
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