Vermiculite, finished compost and chopped grass clippings all allow the young seedlings to come up easily after germination. Other cool-season vegetables are best transplanted to the garden to give them a head start on the growing season. This group includes cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Most garden centers offer transplants for sale, but experienced gardeners may want to try to raise their own. Transplants should be set at the same depth at which they were grown in the cell packs and watered in at planting.
Young transplants can dry out very quickly, especially if weather is sunny, warm and windy.
Potatoes are an unusual crop in that they are started from buds of last year's crop. The tuber that grows underground is a modified stem. In turn, the new stems will produce a root system. Cut the seed potatoes into pieces, making sure that each piece has at least one healthy bud. Plant the pieces about 4 inches deep and cover with soil.