Hardening off process...

mecktom · March 6, 2012

So at what size plant do you start actually hardening off to result in a good plant??

Thanks in advance.

cornbreadlouie · March 6, 2012

I've heard more places say about two weeks before you plan to plant them out than ones that say harden off when they reach a certain size.

For me, it's been so warm this year that most of my seedlings are already living outside during the day. I figure it's never too early to get plants used to the light they've been evolving billions of years to grow under....

b54red · March 7, 2012

I agree the sooner the better. Since it has been so warm mine have been outside for 3 weeks now. I got a little frost damage to some the other night but it wasn't too bad. I just put some of my seed flats outside yesterday with many of the seedlings still so small they don't have any true leaves yet and some are still sprouting. I have found that the sooner you get them outside the less leggy the plants become and the less shock when planted out into the garden. The only problem setting them out so early is keeping them watered and having to sometimes bring them back inside.

March 6, 2012	#1
mecktom Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southern Virginia Posts: 342	Hardening off process... So at what size plant do you start actually hardening off to result in a good plant?? Thanks in advance.

March 6, 2012	#2
cornbreadlouie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: SF bay area... north bay Posts: 242	I've heard more places say about two weeks before you plan to plant them out than ones that say harden off when they reach a certain size. For me, it's been so warm this year that most of my seedlings are already living outside during the day. I figure it's never too early to get plants used to the light they've been evolving billions of years to grow under.... __________________ Do You Like Worms?

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March 7, 2012	#3
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I agree the sooner the better. Since it has been so warm mine have been outside for 3 weeks now. I got a little frost damage to some the other night but it wasn't too bad. I just put some of my seed flats outside yesterday with many of the seedlings still so small they don't have any true leaves yet and some are still sprouting. I have found that the sooner you get them outside the less leggy the plants become and the less shock when planted out into the garden. The only problem setting them out so early is keeping them watered and having to sometimes bring them back inside.