THE SIMPLE WAY TO HARDEN OFF SEEDLINGS

Hardening off your seedlings is the vital step of acclimating them to the outdoors to assure their survival.

If seedlings are left out in direct sun all day, their leaves could get scorched, curl under, or even fall off because they aren’t used to the intensity of unfiltered light.

What happens if you don’t harden off plants?

In general, the process of hardening off will take about one week, and sometimes up to two weeks if the weather has an unexpected and dramatic drop in temperatures.

Start hardening off seedlings when they’re a couple inches tall with their first set of true leaves.

Day 0

That’s right: the process of hardening off seedlings should start indoors first.

Set your seedlings outside in dappled or partial sun for 2 to 3 hours.

Make sure the area is free of wind and above 60°F. This could be under an eave, a covered porch, or a shady tree.

Day 1

Set your seedlings outside in partial to full sun for 3 hours.

The next afternoon, put the seedlings outside for 3 hours in partial to full sun.

Day 2

Set your seedlings outside in full sun for 4 hours.

Bring the seedlings inside for the night.

Day 3

Set your seedlings outside in full sun for 5 to 6 hours.

Keep the potting soil moist, and bring the seedlings inside at the end of the day.

Day 4

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