Plant protection system

The method of transplanting tender plant seedlings for subsequent growth in an open field subject to harsh seasonable environmental conditions wherein the field soil has been prepared to receive the seedlings comprising the steps of:

• spreading a mulch layer of sheet material over the growing area of the field soil in which the plants are to be grown while exposed to open field environmental conditions;
• forming a hole through said sheet material in said area and into the soil beneath said material at each of a plurality of spaced locations;
• introducing a seedling and generally tubular open ended plant protector through said sheet material and into the soil at each of said holes for the protector to surround the seedling root formation at each of said locations thereby causing the surrounding soil to intimately contact the seedling root formation;
• and
• leaving an upper portion of each protector extending a substantial distance above said sheet material to protectively encircle the tender stem portion and at least a major part of the foliage of the seedling therewithin, causing said sheet material to closely surround the periphery of each said protector at the surface perimeter of each hole thereby enhancing the moisture content of said growing area.