Timing the Transplant Quiz Quiz

Assess your understanding of key factors involved in nursery transplanting within horticulture. Explore best practices for timing, technique, and plant care to improve transplant success rates.

1. Best Time of Day

   Which is generally considered the best time of day to transplant seedlings from a nursery to the field in order to minimize water stress?

   1. Early morning
   2. Midday
   3. Late afternoon
   4. Noon

   Explanation: Transplanting in the early morning helps reduce water loss, as temperatures are cooler and sunlight is less intense. Midday and noon are not ideal because higher temperatures increase evaporation and stress. While late afternoon is better than midday, it is typically not as optimal as early morning.

2. Seedling Age Importance

   Why is it important to transplant seedlings at the recommended age or stage of growth in horticulture?

   1. To ensure proper root development
   2. To match fertilizer schedules
   3. To reduce risk of pest infestation
   4. To prevent leaf discoloration

   Explanation: Transplanting at the recommended stage ensures that the seedlings have developed a strong root system, improving their survival and establishment. Although young seedlings may be at reduced risk for pests, and fertilizer schedules and leaf color are important, they are not the primary reason for timing transplants.

3. Harden Off Process

   What is meant by 'hardening off' seedlings before transplanting from a nursery to the field?

   1. Gradually exposing plants to outdoor conditions
   2. Trimming excess leaves
   3. Applying pesticide spray
   4. Watering with fertilizer solution

   Explanation: Hardening off involves slowly acclimating seedlings to the conditions outside the nursery, which reduces transplant shock. Applying pesticides, trimming leaves, or using fertilizer solutions are unrelated to this specific process.

4. Soil Moisture at Transplant

   Why should the transplant site's soil be moist but not waterlogged when moving nursery plants?

   1. Dry soil encourages deeper roots
   2. Waterlogged soil reduces transplant shock
   3. Moist soil helps roots establish and prevents stress
   4. Excessively wet soil speeds up growth

   Explanation: Moist soil creates a favorable environment for root contact and reduces plant stress after transplanting. Dry soil can dry out roots, while waterlogged conditions lead to poor oxygen supply and root diseases, rather than reducing transplant shock or genuinely speeding growth.

5. Spacing Considerations

   When transplanting from a nursery, why is it important to follow recommended plant spacing guidelines?

   1. To encourage taller plant growth
   2. To maximize water runoff
   3. To make harvesting more difficult
   4. To allow for proper airflow and reduce disease risk

   Explanation: Appropriate spacing ensures that air circulates around plants, minimizing humidity and disease problems. Making harvesting difficult, maximizing runoff, or specifically encouraging tall growth are not desired outcomes of correct spacing.