Hello garden friends. The month of May brings longer days and warmer evenings. The sounds of peepers and birds fill our days and nights with song, and many are thinking about planting gardens and moving indoor starter plants outside.
Many of us will start seedlings indoors to get a head start on the growing season, but one very important process must not be overlooked. The “hardening off” of plants.
To harden off young plants started indoors is very important because they have adapted to the indoor environment and could experience shock when brought outdoors. Wind, extreme temperature change, direct exposure to the sun and rain can stress plants, making them susceptible to sun scald, disease and root rot.
All plants need that hardening off process, including vegetables, flowering plants, greenhouse hangers and herbs, even plants purchased from a nursery. I recommend seven to 14 days to acclimate your plants. Here’s how.
Once the temperature is consistently above 50 degrees, and the threat of frost is past, start by bringing seedlings and plants outside in a protected area away from direct sunlight and wind for one hour, and then bring them back inside. Continue to increase outdoor exposure each day until they have been out for a full day. Now they are ready to be outdoors day and night, as long as it remains above 45 degrees. Some cold climate plants will harden off more quickly than other plants, such as kale, lettuces and spinach.
Your plants will appear stronger, greener and sturdy by the end of your hardening off process, and it is time to plant them into the garden or prepared pots. I like to transplant my plants on a cloudy day so the soil doesn’t dry out too quickly. Be sure to give them a nice drink of water and fertilize them regularly for maximum growth.
New England weather can be truly unpredictable so be sure to cover your plants should there be any threat of frost.
Good luck with your new plants, and be sure to give them lots of care. You will be rewarded with bountiful produce and mounds of beautiful blooms for months to come.
Next month we will discuss organic insect control and diseases.