Hardening off Question

Hi all,

I am a newby at gardening and have an unheated greenhouse (also a newby). Right now, I am starting seeds indoors with great success. When I need to start more, I move the more established plants (about 1 month old) to the greenhouse. Haven't lost any there yet either.

My questions is; I am in zone 6/7 and it gets pretty cool in the greenhouse (in the 30's and 40's) at night. Would this be considered "hardening off" the plants? Or do I really need to acclimate them to the outside before I plant them permanently? During the day, I open the doors of the greenhouse because it gets pretty warm in there. So, the plants do get a bit of a breeze (there's a door on both sides of my 12 x 12 greenhouse.

What are your thoughts/experiences?
bob

Hardening off also means getting the seedlings used to the Sun as well.

http://gardening.wsu.edu/library/vege003/vege003.htm

Yep, "'s gonna be a bright, bright, sun shiney day!"

Dobie Gray! LOVE that song!

bigbob, hope you're getting the sunshine I'm getting today (finally!)

The majority if plants you are growing need to be hardened off outside. You didn't mention what kinds you are growing but I assume a variety of vegetables, eh?

The 30-40º temps at night aren't necessarily hardening off the plants to cold temps but are basically just slowing their growth. No worries though as long as they are still hanging in there and growing according to your schedule. The warm temps during the day will certainly help, warming up their root systems again. But, the plants really need to be put outside to harden off for your final plant-out so they can get used to the wind as well as the sun. A fan or the like in the g-house will help them a bit but outside is the better way to go.

My g-house is fairly large, very loaded but I wouldn't consider any of these hardened off. They still need to go outside at some point.

Shoe

I am SO JEALOUS Shoe! I'd live in that greenhouse if I could!

I wanna live in Shoe's greenhouse, too! (pout) (stamp foot) (hold breath 'til turn blue)

LOL! I feel your pain!

tommy, Honeybee, trust me, I feel like I live in there sometimes, especially this time of year. It's getting a bit overwhelming for me these days with literally thousands of seedlings to deal with, and still more seeding to do. Hmmm, maybe I can fix you two up with a cot in the corner in exchange for potting/repotting duties, eh!?

Looking for 84º here today; in the g-house it'll be nearly 100º. Time to get moving again.

Happy Gardening, All!
Shoe

Shoe, if we lived closer, I'd be there in a flash!

Supposed to be in the low 80's here today.

I've already picked aspargus this morning, transplanted parsley, pruned back the sage, and dug up some running-bamboo sprouts.

After lunch, I'll be in the garden room sowing sweet basil, and potting-up sweet peppers.

This evening, daughter, dogs, and I will go for a nice long walk on the greenway.

Life is good!

Wow, you've had a great day so far!

Just came in for a second to make some garlic spray. Finished setting out some beets, cabbage, and calabrese. About to set out some Swiss chard and spinach plants but I know the deer will get them if I don't make 'em stink real purty, hence the garlic.

Already 86 here but windy so it's not too bad. Big storms coming tonight or in the morning, so they say. Hope to get garden stuff planted and then work in the g-house tomorrow, doing catch up work in there.

Okay, break be over!

Shoe

Shoe,
How do you reach your plants that are next to wall? It looks like there are more plants than paths. Do you have a watering system to reach everything? Do you sell you plants or is it just for you?

It looks like lots of fun and work! I agree that if I lived closer I would love to rent a space to live in there in trade for potting up. My DH wants to move into a larger home in a few years. I told him that my only 2 "demands" are that the house is on a large enough lot for chickens and a large "stand alone greenhouse" and that the back faces south so I can have a smaller lean to greenhouse for the snowy days of winter. I would love to sell eggs and plants for a living, but that is not possible right now. I guess I should be happy that I do get to work from home and the children I take care of enjoy my gardening too.

Good luck potting up all those plants!

Mornin', All...

Onyx, "How do you reach your plants that are next to wall? It looks like there are more plants than paths."

Actually there are small aisles between those plants on the left side, it's just hard to see because of the angle of the pic. Just wide enough to gently walk towards the wall. I water with a hose usually because the plants are of such varying size and in varying sized pots, some in gallons, some in 4" pots, etc. I do have a home-made pvc pipe sprinkler system but seldom use it as it wastes too much water and it would drown some plants or not water others enough.

Here it is pouring down rain this morning. It's so funny to be in the greenhouse, rain pouring down, and having to water plants at the same time!

Off to get some potting done on a nice rainy day. Glad I got my garden plants set out yesterday, this rain will get them off to a good start.

Shoe

Shoe,

Thanks for your input. Yeah, we got some rain last night, didn't we? I'm starting to harden the plants off outside the GH. Been awfully windy lately; so taking it slow.

Gonna get chilly tonight (32 deg). Should warm up nicely tomorrow though.

Yes, I do have a variety. Though not as nice as yours. Little bit of everything. Planted out, I have lettuces, broccolli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, radishes, carrots, taters, onions and garlic. Hope to get out kohlrabi, herbs, kale, tomatoes, peppers and a few more soon. I will start the beans and corn soon; they need warmer ground.

bob

It sure was windy last night. I thought the house was going to blow away. Except for a large storage bin blowing onto the onion bed, we seem to have avoided any damage.

Having had a few warmer days, the inside temperature of the house has crept up to the mid-70's which has the sweet peppers finally sprouting like crazy!

Tomatoes will be set out after April 18th, and I have plenty of back-ups if we get frost after that date.

I wish the beets were growing more quickly. A couple are about an inch across, but the rest haven't begun to swell their roots.

The early peas are looking great. I have removed their hoop-loop cover. They are not blooming, but I'm still hopeful we will have peas before the heat of summer sets in.

Wind is another hardening-off factor.

Dry wind may pull water out of the leaves faster than roots are able to replenish it.

And plants that were grown without a fan, or tangled and supporting each other, are likely to be fragile, blown around, and maybe broken by wind.

"A sheltered spot" should protect babies from direct sun and from direct wind.

And from slugs, if possible!

Corey