to cook or in the back of a

to cook or in the back of a truck to be blown to pieces. At home, protect the seedlings until you are ready to plant them. Place them in a shady spot, and water if necessary. If they are greenhouse grown and the weather is still cold, harden them off gradually to the outside temperature by setting them outside for longer periods each day and reducing the amount of water they receive. However, it is important to be sure the plants never dry out to the point of wilting. Watering the seedlings a few hours before time to transplant them will help in removing them from the container and reduce the impact of transplant stress.

Push plants out of the plastic cell packs

Most bedding plants are sold in plastic cell packs or trays in which each small plant has its own separate cell. To removing a seedling from the cell pack, turn the tray over in your hand and push the rootball out by pressing on the bottom and sides of the individual cell. Never tug on the stem to pull out the plant.

Put your plants into the garden as soon as possible. Keeping them in their cell packs stunts growth. If you buy the plants before the weather is warm enough to plant them outside and it is necessary to keep them indoors, be sure that they recieve adequate light. The warmer the tempatures amd lower light indoors weakens the plants and makes them less likely to perform well once they are set in the garden. *

Dr. Diane Relf is an environmental horticulturist with Virginia Cooperative Extension and is a member of the faculty of Virginia Tech.

Marriage licenses

issued

The following marriage licenses were issued during the past week at the Rappahannock Clerk’s Office on Gay Street in Washington.

Charles David Whorton Jr., Flint Hill and Mylene Machael Ryan, Flint Hill.

Harjit Singh Gill, Bullcreek, Australia and Sarah Jane Shores, Amissville.