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Hardening Off Plants Ready For The Big Outdoors

May 15, 2017 By Jill Anderson Leave a Comment

This is first year of having a greenhouse & it’s been so helpful to have extra growing space. Though without heat, seedlings were still housed on bedroom window-sills, which meant daily turning trays of seedlings to give them as much all-round light as possible.

Hardening Off Plants ready for the Big Outdoors-dill seedlings in the cold-frame

seedlings in the cold frame

french beans growing at the allotment

french beans growing at the allotment

borage flowers

borage flowers, loved by bees & nice in a glass of Pimms

watering the allotment, growing squash,

winter squash growing at the allotment

Hardening Off Plants ready for the Big Outdoors - sweet pea Cupani'

sweet pea Cupani

Now we’ve reached that time of year when small plants have to leave their safe, warm environment  to be planted in the garden. Yes, it’s hardening off time.

The process takes about 10-14 days, as they gradually get used to the cooler temperatures, sun, wind & rain that is real life in the garden.

Find a convenient place that has dappled shade & choose an overcast day for their first time outside. Leave them out for 2-3 hours, before taking them in again. Gradually extend the time their time outside each day & increase their exposure to sunshine.

After 10-14 days of this, the plants adapt and physically change, growth is slower & the leaves becomes slightly waxy too as a protection against the harsh outdoors.

The more tender the plant, the longer the hardening-off process takes. As you would imagine, half-hardy, tender plants take longer to acclimatise than hardy ones.

I’m over-cautious about putting newly grown plants out in the garden. I plant a few outside, then wait a few days before the rest go out.

Check the weather forecast & keep them inside if frost threatens. The last frost date here is usually the middle of May.

Jill

all photos: Jill Anderson

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Hello, I’m Jill Anderson.
This is where you’ll find good, solid information about gardening, growing fruit & vegetables and how to keep it all looking good.
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