My girlfriend and I are attempting to garden for the first time. We started a lot of seelings and they were doing great. So, being the novice, I moved them out to my deck where they'd get sun and I scorched them. I was completely clueless of the hardening off process.
So...help a newb out...please explain your hardening off process.
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PunkRotten
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- Location: Monterey, CA.
I put some seedlings out a week ago, and put them in too much sun and the leaves got burned a little so I moved them. The trick is to start them off in almost entire shade, maybe 1 hour of sun at the most. And morning sun if possible.
Do that for about a week, then move them over to maybe 2-3 hours of sun. I do that for a few more days and if the plants arte doing well I will move them over to a little more sun and then transplant. Be ready to have something to provide them shade if the sun becomes too much for them. But generally about 10 days of hardening off works. I like to go a little longer just to be sure.
Do that for about a week, then move them over to maybe 2-3 hours of sun. I do that for a few more days and if the plants arte doing well I will move them over to a little more sun and then transplant. Be ready to have something to provide them shade if the sun becomes too much for them. But generally about 10 days of hardening off works. I like to go a little longer just to be sure.
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rainbowgardener
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- Location: TN/GA 7b
Some people do it by moving them in and out. Take them out for 1-2 hrs of morning sun and then bring them back in, gradually increase the time outdoors. Since that's hard to do when you are at work, I do it with position.
I bring them out and put them in a spot (UNDER a garden bench on my deck) where they get NO direct sun and are rather protected from wind, etc. If it is warm enough they just stay out. If the nights are still cold, they come back in for the night. After a couple days like that, I move them to a location where they get a couple hours AM sun. After a couple days like that I move them to where they get 3-4 hrs AM sun.
But you have to do it carefully. Mine are mostly in little 3" pots when they are being hardened off. Those little pots can dry out very fast on a hot sunny day. So watch your weather reports, stay very on top of watering, etc.
I bring them out and put them in a spot (UNDER a garden bench on my deck) where they get NO direct sun and are rather protected from wind, etc. If it is warm enough they just stay out. If the nights are still cold, they come back in for the night. After a couple days like that, I move them to a location where they get a couple hours AM sun. After a couple days like that I move them to where they get 3-4 hrs AM sun.
But you have to do it carefully. Mine are mostly in little 3" pots when they are being hardened off. Those little pots can dry out very fast on a hot sunny day. So watch your weather reports, stay very on top of watering, etc.