Hey everyone! I'm new to gardening and have some seedlings that I'm planning to plant in the community garden when it opens in May. Right now, they're sitting in a sunny South facing window since I don't have grow lights. Some of them are a bit leggy, but they're doing okay overall. I'm thinking about introducing them to some outdoor conditions for better light and a little breeze to strengthen them up before planting. However, I'm unsure about the temperatures fluctuating—some days it's in the 70s and others it drops to 50. Is it safe to put them outside when it's 50 degrees during the day? I know they can't stay outside overnight yet. I'm in Zone 7a and I'm growing tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, green onions, chives, thyme, rosemary, basil, parsley, lavender, and watermelon so far. Also, should I be concerned about my berry starters—will my blueberry and raspberry bushes be fine, and what about strawberries on my balcony?
3 Answers
As long as there's sunshine, your seedlings should be fine outside, even on cooler days. I usually take mine out for a bit whenever it’s sunny. Just remember to bring them back in at night, and they'll get used to the outdoor conditions without much hassle.
I like to slowly acclimate my seedlings. Start with around 6-8 hours outside for the first few days, then extend it to a full day after a little while. Just keep an eye on the weather—avoid exposing them to extreme conditions.
You definitely need to harden them off! Start with just an hour outside on the first day, then gradually increase the time to help them adjust. Temperatures above 50 should be fine for most of your crops, except for watermelon—maybe you started that a bit early? The cool-weather crops should actually thrive outside as long as it’s above freezing.
I appreciate the advice! Yeah, I might have rushed the watermelon a bit, but I'm learning as I go. Thanks for the tips!