How Early Can I Start My Buckets?

I am about to do 3 5-gallon buckets and have a question on when to start them. I have one seedling and two with tap roots showing in oasis cubes.

I guess my question is... can I go ahead and put them in my 5-gallon buckets with mesh lids/hydroton rocks and just hand water them until they get roots long enough to reach the water? Or should I let them all get going good first?

Nevermind, I've started them. Guess I'll find out. 1st grow underway...

I put mine in from seed. Just raise the water level as high as you can. Hand water them a few times a day if they arnt damp from the water level/bubbles.