![](https://programming.dev/pictrs/image/5cead228-299d-4b35-95e7-27b46b3a05eb.png)
![](https://beehaw.org/pictrs/image/71cfa397-fb63-48da-97bf-979678f69a68.png)
Just an update: I transplanted them 13 days ago using both recommendations. First I slid the root ball from the pot by turning it upside down and gently pushing on it from a hole in the bottom of the pot. Once the root ball was free I dunked the root ball into a bucket several times until all the potting soil dissolved. From there I could unspool the taproots from each other which were thick enough to where none of the sprouts were damaged and all are growing well. Pictures from a week after transplant:
apples and oranges is why