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Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

I see some of you putting your plants out are not hardening them off. Only transplant on cloudy days, and in the afternoon..

4/15/2009 9:38:14 PM

Buffalo, New York

i've been meaning to ask this question....

what does hardening off mean?

4/16/2009 1:29:34 AM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

jeremy: the term hardening off stands for the act of putting youre young plant outside to get it accustomed to the enviroment just before you plant it in the ground, this helps it to survive the transplant shock easier! take care god bless and grow a slunger!

4/16/2009 2:49:19 AM

Webster, NY

I start my plants indoors. Once started, they get placed in pots. As soon as they start coming up, I place them outside so they see full sun as they come out of the soil (depending on weather and temp that day). They then come in at night and go out the next day until planting.

4/16/2009 3:55:57 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Just like you get a Sun Burn from the UV rays. So will your plants..it can take a healthy plant and put it back weeks.

4/16/2009 7:54:23 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

This is How to properly Harden your plantZ off in Colorado.......

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=102353

Expecting 12 - 24 more inches of snow this storm......now we ARE extreme growerZ.......

4/16/2009 8:58:23 AM

Rexburg, Idaho

I will argue that if the plants go out when they should (first seed leaf is just forming) then hardening off is not needed. I know this is contrary to most opinions, but in ten years I have yet to "harden" off a pumpkin plant, and have not noticed any ill effects from not doing so.
Now if you you grow it out so that it has two or three true leaves showing then I would consider it. By that stage you may already be running into issues with being root bound.
Unless you are running metal halide lights you cannot substitute adequately for good ole sunlight so I get the plants out in the garden as soon as I can.

4/17/2009 8:40:36 AM

Bemidji Minnesota

That’s what my hothouse is for. Its ventilated enough to let some air flow, and the cheap plastic allows sun to penetrate but not too much. The air stays warmer in there at night too, just enough to protect it. On nice days I open up the bottom flaps a bit to let more wind in, and that seems to help accustom it to the elements. I try to keep it on until the plant is around 5ft long.

4/17/2009 11:23:06 PM

Joliet, IL

afternoon on a cloudy day is the best scenario. if a sunny day is all you got, go afternoon for sure. if the next day is bright sunshine, a small section of shade cloth suspended over the individual plants works nice. i have a misting head available over the little ones if it happens to be in the 80s outside or 100s in the hoophouses. a small white plastic table can be used to help harden off the plants if someone is available during the day to place and remove them on intervals. think of yourself going to the beach all day and not having any base tan. don't let them get fried.

4/19/2009 11:45:16 AM