Keep increasing the time for which the seedlings remain outside by one hour every day or every other day.Īlso, from the third or fourth day onwards, you can remove the shade and let them be exposed to the direct rays. If the seedlings were exposed to the sunlight for one hour on the first day, increase that to two hours on the second day, three hours on the third day, and so on. You should increase the hardening off time gradually. Then bring them back in to the environment that they are used to inside. If the temperature is very high or terribly cold outside, you should consider keeping them outside for only an hour and not more than that. You should not let the seedlings get exposed to the air and sun for more than two hours for the first few days. It is important to bring the plants back inside once the first day of exposure is finished. RELATED: How to save tomato seeds for next season 5. If there is too much wind around, make sure that the seedlings are well protected and don’t get blown over due to the wind.Īlso, the sun’s rays should not fall directly on the plant and the area must be free from animals, insects, and pests. Place the seedlings in the hardening off spot during the early or late afternoon and move them back inside before dinner. You will have to keep the seedlings outside for just an hour or two and not more than that on the first day.Ĭhoose a mild day with not too much wind or pouring rain. Placing the seeds in the hardening off spot If you are new to gardening, or want some support and knowledge getting a garden started, let me help! 4. In the edge of a mature garden under the shade and shelter of big shrubs or trees is another great option. You can use a spot under a seed table or in a cold frame/cloche. It will be best to have a shady spot that does not allow direct sun rays to land on the seedlings, and somewhere out of the wind. Since the seedlings will be exposed to the sun and wind for the first time, it will be wise to protect them initially. This is a very crucial stage of hardening off seedlings. RELATED: How to start seeds the right way 3. If you water every day, slowly swap to every other day, then every third, then only 1-2 times per week.ĭo not provide any supplemental food to fertilize the seedlings. Your first job will be to slow down the rate that you are watering the seedlings a week before they are taken outside. You can mark the dates that are tentative to harden off the seedlings on the calendar and accordingly arrange to transplant them in the weeks that follow.Īs mentioned earlier, hardening off the seedlings is a gradual process where the seeds need to get accustomed to the natural air and sunlight. If you aren’t sure, ask a local gardener, they are likely to know. Once you know your last frost date, it is best to allow a couple more weeks, just to be safe. A late frost will simply kill this type of plant in one night. This is why it is important to check your own last frost dates before you harden the seedlings. Most of the plants that bare fruit (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, zucchini, eggplants etc) are unable to endure the cold temperatures that winter and early spring bring. Here is a step by step approach to hardening off the seedlings and transplanting them to an outside area. Hardening off seedlings is a gradual process where the seedlings have to get accustomed to the sunlight and the cool climate at night slowly, allowing time for them to become more hardy and resilient.Ĭan’t be bothered reading? Check out the video: Most fruiting vegetables are frost-tender which is why gardeners have to plant the seedlings indoors to prevent them from freezing/dying. Most of the fruit-bearing plants for your vegetable garden are sown inside during the winter season and are transplanted when the spring arrives. This post contains affiliate links, this means at no extra cost to you, we make a commission from sales. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions in partnership with a qualified health care professional. Please read: This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prevent any disease.
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