The first time I grew WNA seed, I did it in baggies, too. I wanted to see the actual stages. It was really fun, and I transplanted when I saw the first leaf emerging out of the vermiculite. (The baggies stood upright.) This method proved pretty disastrous. The tiny plants are incredibly delicate and damage is so easily done. When you think about it, that the seed will only grow one leaf for the entire first season, gambling that you won't kill (at least) the emerging leaf is a dub idea. Well, that was me, and what can I say... everyone can make bad decisions with the best intentions.
Now, several years after that first experimentation, I am trying it again. In my mind, the best time for transplanting is right after germination, when their is little damage caused by handling.
So this is when:
If I had caught these earlier, I would have:
I would imagine the next best time would be anytime before the first leaf is sent up. If your seeds have not begun forming their tiny seed bulbs yet, that would be best. As you might expect, it's best to handle the plant by its seed, not the root, bulb or emerging leaf. If that time is missed, then if you are able to continue growing until the leaf has matured, I think that would be the next best time. Then I would handle by the leaf, as you would with regular flowers or vegetable seedlings.
