You HAVE to do this if you're starting seeds indoors

We start a good chunk of our seeds indoors, but we NEVER skip this step.

Hardening off your seedlings is vital to their success. This is just the process of getting them acclimated to being outside. You can start with a few hours each day and gradually work your way up so they get used to being outside.

Going from a comfortable environment inside directly to being outside can shock your plants.

KEEP LEARNING

GET STOCKED UP:

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

#gardening

[FDDLERSGREEN]

Once my plants poke through the soil, i count down 2 weeks in front of the window, then i put them outside in indirect sunlight. 24/7 for a week, then put them in the garden under a netting. Gotta harden them for sure

[hazeysgarden]

I need a strict hardening off regimen. This is something I have struggled with. It’s like my plants don’t want to harden off. I think it might be because the summers are so hot and the sun is so intense that no matter what I do, an indoor grown seedling is just going to struggle in mid summer in south Louisiana. I’m not sure though.

[eddieable]

Lets see you start germination inside. Then once the seedling is decent in size, bring it outside with UV protection covers? Obviously avoiding crazy hot.or cold weather. Would thag work?

[jash]

wish I knew this a month ago, got my avacado 4ft tall then put it in a greenhouse...just fried it :(

[robinstephens]

Or put them in the shade for 4 to 7 days

[suskagusip]

That's a lot of lifting. I did that then I forgot went to work. There goes my seedlings bowing dead.

[kogumak.]

How often for long before transferring do you do that?
An hour a day a week before? Twice a day for an hour for two weeks? 😮