Question about hardening off...

Tomatovator · April 21, 2008

Do seedlings have to be a minimum size before you start to harden them off? I see 6 packs of plants for sale and the plants are only 4 inches tall or so. Can I start to harden mine off at that height?

Granny · April 21, 2008

My seedlings went outside yesterday and are back out there today. The tallest of them are about 4-5 inches. Those are the marigolds that have been in individual cells for several weeks. My largest tomatoes went into individual cells last Thursday and are now 2-3 inches tall. The others were just potted up individually yesterday morning. Start with no more than 10 minutes in full sun and that either very early or very late in the day, then move them to the shade.

April 21, 2008	#1
Tomatovator Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Zone 6 Posts: 461	Question about hardening off... Do seedlings have to be a minimum size before you start to harden them off? I see 6 packs of plants for sale and the plants are only 4 inches tall or so. Can I start to harden mine off at that height?

April 21, 2008	#2
Granny Tomatovillian™ Honoree Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 507	My seedlings went outside yesterday and are back out there today. The tallest of them are about 4-5 inches. Those are the marigolds that have been in individual cells for several weeks. My largest tomatoes went into individual cells last Thursday and are now 2-3 inches tall. The others were just potted up individually yesterday morning. Start with no more than 10 minutes in full sun and that either very early or very late in the day, then move them to the shade.