hardening off seedlings
JULY 26, 2024
A weekly crash course on one thing you can implement right away to be a better gardener.
As we look ahead to starting our fall planting, you guys are getting into the nitty gritty of plant health! Hardening off is a way to acclimate the seedlings you've grown indoors to their ultimate outdoor home.
Hardening off is the time between growing indoors and being planted outdoors that allows baby plants to get used to the temperature and sunlight of their final outdoor home.
01. Protected outdoor area
baby's first trip out of the nest
The first day of the hardening off process, I usually start in the afternoon, after the intensity of the mid-day sun.
I'll find a shady/not too windy spot and put seedlings outdoors. Assuming temperatures wont dip too low, I'll leave them outdoors overnight.
02. Partial Exposure
Like half day daycare
After at least one night, sometimes two in the shady and protected area, you can start introducing direct sunlight for a PORTION of the day. I pop them into the sunlight when I do my morning garden walk, then return them to the shade around 11:30/noon so they miss the intensity of the midday sun
03. Full day in the sun
Ready to leave the nest
After a day or two of HALF DAY sun, I'll upgrade the seedlings to a full day of sun. If the spot in the garden where they'll ultimately be planted is open, I'll literally sit the tray in the spot they will live - this acclimates them to the sun intensity they will experience for their time in the garden.
04. Plant!
Ready to Plant!
It's been about 4-6 days at this point, and your seedlings are ready to plant! Plant them into their final home, water in well, and wait!
Full disclosure - I didn't used to harden off at all (cringey face). It really is better for seedlings to have a gradual release into their outdoor homes, so I take the time now.
One lesson learned the hard way: do NOT let soil blocks get rained on… all my soil block hardening off takes place on my covered porch. If you don't have access to a covered outdoor area, keep your eyes on the skies!
Finally, don't forget the you don't need indoor grow lights to grow a beautiful garden this fall. Lots of things can be direct sown: ranunculus, anemones, tulips, daffodils, poppies, and bachelors button do not need any indoor care before being planted into the garden.
Want to join a group of gardeners all learning to grow these flowers together? The Autumn Grow Along is now open to enrollment, with the first lesson dropping September 1.
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