This is particularly important if you are trying different varieties. Use the plant tag as a location marker.Fill the planting hole with soil to the top and press soil down firmly with your hand leaving a slight depression around the plant to hold water.Carefully remove the plant from its pot and gently loosen the root ball with your hands to encourage good root development.Dig a hole for each plant large enough to amply accommodate the root ball.Set plants 3-4 feet apart in rows 4-5 feet apart.Level with a rake to remove clumps of grass and stones. Prepare the bed by turning the soil under to a depth of 8 inches. In hot areas, afternoon shade is helpful. Select a location in full sun with deep, fertile, well-drained soil.This hardening off process toughens the plant’s cell structure and reduces transplant shock and scalding. If frost threatens at night, cover or bring containers indoors, then take them out again in the morning. Be sure to protect them from wind and hot sun at first. Accustom young plants to outdoor conditions by moving them to a sheltered place outside for a week. Before planting in the garden, seedling plants need to be “hardened off”.If you are growing in small cells, you may need to transplant the seedlings to 3 or 4 inch pots when seedlings have at least 3 pairs of leaves before transplanting to the garden so they have enough room to develop strong roots.Seedlings do not need much fertilizer, feed when they are 3-4 weeks old using a starter solution (half strength of a complete indoor houseplant food) according to manufacturer’s directions.Most plants require a dark period to grow, do not leave lights on for 24 hours. Incandescent bulbs will not work for this process because they will get too hot. Raise the lights as the plants grow taller. As soon as seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3-4 inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8 hours at night.Once chilled, plant seeds ¼ inch deep in individual pots 6-8 weeks before last expected frost.This will provide the cold period that they need in order to germinate. Wrap artichoke seeds in a damp towel and store in the refrigerator for two weeks before sowing.
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