When the cold frame is able to remain open both day and night, the seedlings are ready to be transplanted into the garden. Cold frames may still need to be closed at night, as a means to control temperature and protect new plant starts from strong winds as they acclimate. After several days, gardeners should be able to leave the frame open for the majority of the day. Gradually, increase the amount of sunlight the transplants receive and how long the frame remains open each day. To begin hardening off plants, place them into a shaded cold frame on a cloudy day for a few hours. The use of a cold frame allows gardeners to easily and efficiently harden off seedlings without the hassle of repeatedly moving seed trays to and from a sheltered growing area. Seedlings in a cold frame can be well protected from these elements, making this an easy way to harden the plants off. In addition to temperature regulation, cold frames can also aid in protection from strong winds, moisture, and even direct sunlight. As the name suggests, cold frames are most often used to offer protection from low temperatures early in the growing season. Many gardeners choose to use cold frames as a means to begin hardening off plants. Using cold frames in spring is another way to help harden off your seedlings. By exposing transplants to new conditions over time, usually about a week, plants are able to increase defenses against these harsher conditions. The process of “hardening off” refers to the gradual introduction of the plants to the new environment. While these seedlings can sometimes overcome environmental stressors at transplant time in many cases, the issue is so severe that the transplants are unable to recover. These outdoor variables can make adjusting to new growing conditions quite difficult for young plants. Grow lights emit enough light to nurture and encourage growth in seedlings, but the strength of the light is not comparable to that of direct sunlight.Īdditional factors, like wind, may damage delicate transplants. Seedlings which have been started indoors or in greenhouses have been exposed to conditions much different than those that occur outdoors. Let’s learn more about using a cold frame for seedlings to harden off. “Hardening off” plants before being moved to their final location not only improves the likelihood of survival but ensures a strong start to the growing season. Van Krevelen keeps her seedlings evenly moist from grow light to garden. Gardeners have different approaches to the watering aspect of the hardening off process. This early season frustration, most often caused by injury at or after transplant, can be easily avoided. Too much direct breeze from a fan could dry out the seedlings and do the same damage wind would in the garden. With dreams of lush, thriving vegetable plots, imagine the disappointment as the tiny plants begin to wilt and wither away. The cover is placed back on, before nightfall.Whether growing your own transplants or purchasing seedlings from a local nursery, each season, gardeners eagerly begin to transplant starts into their gardens. The cover is lifted each day as the weather warms up. It allows you to keep your transplants outdoors, except during an extreme period of freezing weather. On close examination, you will likely see the main stalk of the plant is growing stockier, which makes it stronger, and helps it to endure wind and weather.Įach day, allow the plants to remain outdoors for increasing periods and allow them to experience greater temperature and wind levels.Īlways bring seedling transplants indoors, if frost or extreme weather is forecast.Īs planting time nears, after the last frost date for your area, allow your transplants to remain outdoors and uncovered, as long as the nights do not get too cold.Ī cold frame is a valuable tool for the hardening-off process. During the early days of the hardening off process, you may see little change in plant growth. Your young transplants do not need to endure a strong spring lightning storm before they are out in the garden. Then, bring them back indoors, before the weather begins to cool back down.ĭuring the first few days, avoid rainy, and especially windy days. Make sure to wait until the location has warmed up in the morning, before setting them out. Begin hardening off plants, by setting them out onto a warm, sunny patio or deck for just a few hours a day.
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