weak seedlings when put outside

My seedlings were great under light. I put then in my sun room and they also did fine. When I put them outside about 2 weeks later, I put them in shady areas and kept watered. However, they look terrible. Top leaves are wilted, some just completely died. Nastastrum is wasted....and I thought they are very hardy. How did I do wrong? Should I have applied plant food or?

Kathy

Seedlings have to be hardened off. I take the flats out everyday for about 1 week then bring them in at night. Temperatures also make a difference it needs to be gradual. It does help to put them in shade to semi shade depending on your location here I do it in the spring while its still cooler but keep track of temperature difference between the house and outdoors. Good luck
Kim

I put them in shade and out of any major drafts. It's so disappointing after they germinated and grew so well under lights. Even in the sunroom, which is an attached room, they did well. I hate seening such as waste of money. Maybe next years.

How cold were the nights since you put it outside? I know here in Raleigh we had some pretty cold nights in the past 2 wks

They never got below 45 or I carried them in. I don't know. Darn things!

A lot of times wind and shifting sunlight patterns can wreak havoc on seedlings that have been grown indoors. Have you tried a cold frame? It helps with wind and colder temps while providing lots of light and warmth.

Was just about to post a similar enquiring - start off with inside and grow lights - bought some straw bales and got some glass to lay on top (attempt at a cold frame).

Can I move them straight into the cold frame -no hardening off - broke my left ankle and right foot 3 weeks ago would like to just put them in and "walk" away except for watering and opening and closing glass (or covering with blanket also at night if temp's drop to low) but not "hardening off" (as in out for 2-3 hours then back in then gradually increasing time outside and slowly increasing exposure to elements). I am in SLC, Ut if that helps and talking mostly about tomatoes and peppers but also some misc. flowers.

I found that tomatoes are the hardest to harden off. So I let them germinate on a window sill. That the window can be opened. I keep the window opened at all times. Once I see them germinating. This seems to prepare them for outdoors. Then when it's time to put them outside they don't have a problem at all. I do this with other plants that need to go outside soon too. Hope this helps :-D