Here's a cheap little tool for pricking out seedlings that I read about some years ago. A lot of you old pros probably know about it but I'll post it for those who don't.

You just break off two tines from a plastic fork and it works like a charm for loosening and then lifting seedlings for transplant into a small pot.

I like to start seeds in egg cartons. A plastic spoon is the perfect "spade" for transplanting seedlings from the cartons to cups. I'll have to try this fork idea when transplanting from the cups!

I've seen plastic forks used to keep strawberries propped up off the ground but not for a transplanting tool. I am going to make one, it will be very handy in a few weeks. Thanks!

That is a great little tool! Never thought of removing the extra tines, I often save the plastic ware that comes with fast food meals for greenhouse use.

As I was reclining in the dentist's chair some years ago, I was admiring the laid out dental picks on the tray next to my head. When the technician came in, I told her I'd like to know where to buy some for working with seeds. She said they periodically throw out old ones when they start to get dull (sterilized in their autoclave) and went and got me two different shaped ones that were about at the end of their life. I love these picks for working with small seeds, burying them lightly, and also for removing aphids and scale from my plants.

Thanks for sharing GoDawgs it is a great tip.

ddsack I use the dental tools too. They come in handy for all sorts of things.

Thanks for the hint and picture. I will be trying one soon on the peppers.

We use the heavy duty plastic knives for marking in the garden - making sure to label both top and bottom so when the sun erases much of the name, the bottom label stays complete.

I like that Idea! I use an olive fork for getting my sprouted peppers out of the vermiculite - same idea, and the two tines works great.