I'm adding a solution for root growth and these plants aren't fussy about having their root system stressed. Rockwool is the most used product in hydroponics production! When using peat medium I tear the plants away from each other after throughly wetting their root system, plant in rows and water immediately. I plan to do the same thing with Rockwool. 

I hardly lose any plants this way. Last year planting seeds  outside the bugs devastated my seedlings. This year I did a lot of preventative work so pests will not find my garden so attractive. The chickens are a big part of my plan. They destroy beetle larva that hibernate in plant degree....the chickens are also entertaining...they act like feathered monkeys!