In general, seedlings should be hardened off for about one to two weeks before transplanting them into the garden. The timing for hardening off seedlings will depend on the climate and the plants you are growing. When Should You Start Hardening Off Seedlings? Hardening off allows the plants to adjust to their new environment, which helps them grow stronger and more resilient. This is important because seedlings that have been grown indoors or in a greenhouse are used in controlled environments, and sudden exposure to outdoor conditions can cause them to go into shock. Hardening off is the process of gradually introducing seedlings to outdoor conditions such as sun, wind, and temperature changes.
Hardening off seedlings before transplanting how to#
In this beginner’s guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to harden off seedlings. This is an important step that should not be skipped, as seedlings that are not hardened off properly can suffer from transplant shock or even die. Hardening off seedlings is the process of gradually acclimating them to outdoor conditions, so they can survive and thrive in the garden. Starting seedlings indoors is a great way to get a head start on your garden, but once they’ve reached a certain size, it’s time to begin the process of hardening them off. How to Harden Off Seedlings: A Beginner’s Guide Step 5: Transplant Seedlings into the Garden.What tools do you need to harden off seedlings?.When the cold frame is able to remain open both day and night, the seedlings are ready to be transplanted into the garden. Cold frames may still need to be closed at night, as a means to control temperature and protect new plant starts from strong winds as they acclimate. After several days, gardeners should be able to leave the frame open for the majority of the day. Gradually, increase the amount of sunlight the transplants receive and how long the frame remains open each day. To begin hardening off plants, place them into a shaded cold frame on a cloudy day for a few hours. The use of a cold frame allows gardeners to easily and efficiently harden off seedlings without the hassle of repeatedly moving seed trays to and from a sheltered growing area. Seedlings in a cold frame can be well protected from these elements, making this an easy way to harden the plants off. In addition to temperature regulation, cold frames can also aid in protection from strong winds, moisture, and even direct sunlight. As the name suggests, cold frames are most often used to offer protection from low temperatures early in the growing season. Many gardeners choose to use cold frames as a means to begin hardening off plants. Using cold frames in spring is another way to help harden off your seedlings. By exposing transplants to new conditions over time, usually about a week, plants are able to increase defenses against these harsher conditions. The process of “hardening off” refers to the gradual introduction of the plants to the new environment. While these seedlings can sometimes overcome environmental stressors at transplant time in many cases, the issue is so severe that the transplants are unable to recover. These outdoor variables can make adjusting to new growing conditions quite difficult for young plants. Grow lights emit enough light to nurture and encourage growth in seedlings, but the strength of the light is not comparable to that of direct sunlight.Īdditional factors, like wind, may damage delicate transplants. Seedlings which have been started indoors or in greenhouses have been exposed to conditions much different than those that occur outdoors. Let’s learn more about using a cold frame for seedlings to harden off. “Hardening off” plants before being moved to their final location not only improves the likelihood of survival but ensures a strong start to the growing season. This early season frustration, most often caused by injury at or after transplant, can be easily avoided. With dreams of lush, thriving vegetable plots, imagine the disappointment as the tiny plants begin to wilt and wither away. Whether growing your own transplants or purchasing seedlings from a local nursery, each season, gardeners eagerly begin to transplant starts into their gardens.
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