I just moved all my seedlings outdoors today (zone 8b) without going through the hardening off process. Most of them seem to have handled the sun pretty well, as the temperatures outside aren't significantly different from inside. I'm a bit worried I might have made a mistake here, but I guess I'll find out soon enough. I'm curious about your methods for getting seedlings acclimated—what do you do?
3 Answers
I usually transition mine by putting them on my front porch, where they're mostly in the shade except for that last hour of sunlight in the evening. I keep them there for about 3-5 days before transplanting them. It makes a real difference!
Just a heads up, hardening off is mostly about easing them into the outdoor environment, not just the temperature changes. Good luck with your seedlings; hope they thrive!
To help them adjust, I like to cover my seedlings with row covers or set up a small plastic tent. It really protects them, especially from lower nighttime temperatures, which can be tough.
That sounds like a solid approach! I'll have to consider that for my next round.