How do I harden off and FINALLY start my garden planting ??

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newgardenmom Spartanburg, SC Apr 20, 2008

I've been watching all my new plant babies hatch this week and feel they look much better than my first attempt in which I literally killed everything (unwittingly, of course) - they are about 1 wk out of the soil and I'm watching the water and light contact very carefully - My question is how soon can I began to harden off and FINALLY begin planting my garden ??? I'm so anxious to get started !! Ouyr last frost date is next weekend....Thanks, you all are the greatest to help me out !!!

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pastime Waterman, IL(Zone 5a) Apr 21, 2008

Lucky you, our last frost date is weeks away yet. I think just a week out of the soil is too soon to put them in the ground. Let the roots get more established first. Otherwise they may go into shock when you put them in the ground.

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Apr 21, 2008

I would let them get a little bigger yet, I know it's hard to wait but when they're bigger they'll adjust better to the stress of moving outdoors. I'm guessing they don't even have their first true leaves yet so I definitely wouldn't do anything yet. Once they do get a little bigger, the trick is to take them outside for a little while, then bring them back in, and gradually increase the amount of time they're outside until they're out all the time. Then you can plant them.

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newgardenmom Spartanburg, SC Apr 21, 2008

True leaves ? Why are true leaves important ? Where ARE the true leaves ?????? (I only see one set) Just when I thought I had it all figured out ! Now what ???

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Apr 22, 2008

The first leaves you see are the seed leaves (cotyledons). The true leaves come next--some plants they come really quickly, others take a little longer.

I'd recommend you check out critterologist's articles that are linked to in this thread, lots of good info for you: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/835686/

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SCNewbie Anderson, SC(Zone 7b) Apr 24, 2008

I'm a little south of you, newgardenmom, in Anderson. We passed our last frost date last week, so my stuff is going out now.

I screwed up & put my first batch of seedlings straight in the sun when I took them out weeks ago, and most of them died. Now I put them under the dining table on my deck & let them sit there for 3-4 days before moving them out in the sun. My table is marbled glass, so they get light, but no direct sun. I've had excellent results doing that - I've even put baby seedlings out there that way and they've done fine. But I still wait a little longer (so they're bigger) before I plant them.

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