This past week, I visited a few of the greenhouses in the area, and I noticed a lot of people purchasing flowers and vegetables.

I wanted to remind everyone that April 30th is predicted to be our last possible frost-free date. I usually wait until Memorial Day weekend to plant in my garden, just to be on the safe side. Waiting also allows the soil more time to warm up, which is helpful when planting directly into the soil and not into a container.

Shopping for plants early provides a great selection to choose from, but the plants may become root-bound while you wait for warmer weather. If you notice the roots growing out of the bottom of the container, it is time to repot. I have a few tricks I would like to share that may make this process easier.
The day before, you plan to repot, water your plants. This will help them transition to the new soil. It will also make it easier to remove them from their containers. Make sure to have your pots ready or have the hole in the ground prepared before taking your plants out of their containers.

When planting my tomatoes and peppers, I add a pinch of Epsom salt to the soil. This will encourage new root growth and give you a healthier plant.

I found that if you use scissors to cut the container rather than pulling on the stem or squeezing the container, it causes less damage to the plants.

Once the plant is in the soil, place some loose soil around the stem and roots and give a little pressure using your fingertips. This will help to make sure the roots are set firm in the soil.

I encourage you to transplant in the evening as well. This gives the plant time to adjust to its new home before it is reintroduced to the sun. Planting under the hot sun can cause stress to the plant.

One week after you repot your plants, give them some plant food. This will help them adjust to the new soil and encourage new root growth.