How to Harden Off Seedlings
Stop adding water or fertilizer to the plants a week or 2 before you transplant seedlings to the outdoors., Place a small table under a tree or in another shady part of your outdoor space to harden off seedlings at first., Protect the seedlings from...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Stop adding water or fertilizer to the plants a week or 2 before you transplant seedlings to the outdoors.
Set plants outdoors on the table for an hour or 2 at the beginning of the hardening off process.
Put the plants outdoors during mid-day, when the sun is at its warmest. , Set the board upright in front of the seedlings when you set plants outdoors.
The board should block the wind, so make sure you position it correctly. , You don't need to protect the seedlings from a light drizzle or mist. ,,, Keep an eye on the nighttime temperatures in your area as you transplant seedlings outdoors.
Some plants, such as onions, can handle freezing temperatures after you harden off seedlings.
Other plants, such as tomatoes, will suffer if the temperature goes below 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18.33 degrees Celsius).
Members of the cabbage family can handle cold temperatures but are more likely to bolt, or produce flowers and seeds, if the temperature remains cool for longer than a week.
Don't let cabbages sit out in temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.44 Celsius).
Place the seedlings near a wall of your house in the evenings at first, so they will benefit from the warmth of the house.
The walls will protect the seedlings from wind. , Set plants outdoors away from the walls of the house and begin to leave them out longer at night until they are spending the entire night outdoors. , Add fertilizer to the garden spot or to the container with the plants when you transfer the seedlings so that they do not go into shock.
Use a diluted fertilizer when you set plants outdoors to avoid burning the plants. -
Step 2: Place a small table under a tree or in another shady part of your outdoor space to harden off seedlings at first.
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Step 3: Protect the seedlings from wind with a wooden board.
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Step 4: Drape a plastic row cover over the seedlings when you to protect them from any harsh rains.
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Step 5: Continue to harden off seedlings by leaving the plants outside for an hour longer each day.
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Step 6: Move the table as the days go on so that the seedlings get more and more sun exposure each day.
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Step 7: Begin to set plants outdoors in the late evening.
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Step 8: Water seedlings if they begin to wilt.
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Step 9: Transplant seedlings to their home in the garden once you have hardened them off.
Detailed Guide
Set plants outdoors on the table for an hour or 2 at the beginning of the hardening off process.
Put the plants outdoors during mid-day, when the sun is at its warmest. , Set the board upright in front of the seedlings when you set plants outdoors.
The board should block the wind, so make sure you position it correctly. , You don't need to protect the seedlings from a light drizzle or mist. ,,, Keep an eye on the nighttime temperatures in your area as you transplant seedlings outdoors.
Some plants, such as onions, can handle freezing temperatures after you harden off seedlings.
Other plants, such as tomatoes, will suffer if the temperature goes below 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18.33 degrees Celsius).
Members of the cabbage family can handle cold temperatures but are more likely to bolt, or produce flowers and seeds, if the temperature remains cool for longer than a week.
Don't let cabbages sit out in temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.44 Celsius).
Place the seedlings near a wall of your house in the evenings at first, so they will benefit from the warmth of the house.
The walls will protect the seedlings from wind. , Set plants outdoors away from the walls of the house and begin to leave them out longer at night until they are spending the entire night outdoors. , Add fertilizer to the garden spot or to the container with the plants when you transfer the seedlings so that they do not go into shock.
Use a diluted fertilizer when you set plants outdoors to avoid burning the plants.
About the Author
Elizabeth Sanders
Enthusiastic about teaching crafts techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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