“Hardening off”

 

If we do not do this just right all your work will be for nothing
  Speciality Farms

“Hardening off” is the process of moving plants outdoors for a portion of the day to gradually introduce them to the direct sunlight, dry air, and cold nights. ... Harden off gradually, so that seedlings become accustomed to strong sunlight, cool nights and less-frequent watering over a 7-10 day period.

If your seedlings show signs of wilting, give them a light sprinkle of water. The entire process of hardening off will probably take about a week, depending on temperatures and conditions in your area. During this time, your plants are getting thicker and sturdier, better able to adapt to summertime extremes
 

 Great Example:

 Everyone wants Tomatoes in the garden

 

Steps for Hardening Off Tomatoes

1. Start slowly. For the first day, set plants outside in the shade, next to the house, or in a protected area for an hour or two. ...
2. Raise exposure. ...
3. Monitor seedlings. ...
4. Finally, leave tomatoes out overnight.

 1. Check your seedlings’ frost dates. Some plants—onions, for example—may be OK to harden off while there’s still a risk of frost. Others, such as tomatoes, are typically unable to endure those cold extremes. Wait until the advised date before beginning to harden off.

2 . Stop indoor watering or fertilizing. About a week before your seedlings will go outside, suspend any supplemental watering or plant food.

3. Choose your first hardening off spot. Your seedlings need some protection from wind and sun during their first hours outside. You have a couple of options including a shady spot against your home, a table under a tree, or inside a cold frame.

4. Place your seedlings outside for an hour. Mid to late afternoon, move your seedlings to your hardening off spot, just for an hour or two. Make sure that the plants aren’t getting bashed around by the wind, and are protected from any pests or animals.

5. Move your plants back indoors. At the end of the first day’s hardening off time, put your seedlings back inside. If they’re in a cold frame, close and secure the opening. 

6. Lengthen the hardening off time. Each day, leave your seedlings outside for an hour more than the previous day, gradually giving them more and more direct sunlight time. At the same time, you can move seedlings to a less sheltered location—further from the house, out from under a tree, or outside the cold frame, for example

 7. Protect your seedlings as needed. If temperatures dip during the hardening off time, you may need to bring seedlings inside or close the cover of the cold frame. You can also use row covers to offer extra security and warmth if there’s a hard rain or cold-weather day. Not sure how to construct a row cover? There are many different row cover materials and styles. We have featured two below, hooped and floating, along with two of the most popular materials to use, plastic and spun bound.

8. Extend nighttime hardening off hours. After several days of getting acclimated to daytime conditions, your seedlings will be ready to adapt to nighttime hours, too. Leave them outside longer and longer—always watching temperatures—until they’ve begun to spend the whole night outside.

9. Water as needed. If your seedlings show signs of wilting, give them a light sprinkle of water.
The entire process of hardening off will probably take about a week, depending on temperatures and conditions in your area. During this time, your plants are getting thicker and sturdier, better able to adapt to summertime extremes.


Word: Dog Days
Definition: These are the hottest and most unhealthy days of the year. Also known as Canicular Days, the name derives from the Dog Star, Sirius. The traditional timing of Dog Days is the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11, coinciding with the heliacal (at sunrise) rising of Sirius.

Water the roots not the leaves -

 

 

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