Garden Tips

Hardening off indoor seedlings

Before your seedlings can be moved to the garden, they must be hardened off. Hardening off is the process of gradually adapting them to outdoor conditions.

Here's how:

Move your pots onto trays or portable shelves to make it easier to carry them in and out.

Start 1-2 weeks before you plan to plant your seedlings outdoors. Early plants like lettuce can be hardened off as early as April, while more sun-loving plants like peppers should wait until mid-May.

Stage 1: Place your seedlings in a sheltered, shady spot on a mild day (above 10°C). Start with 1-2 hours and gradually increase their time outdoors.

Stage 2: Gradually increase their exposure to sunlight, wind, and cooler temperatures. Avoid exposing them to strong winds or full sun right away.

Stage 3: As your seedlings adjust, leave them outside for longer stretches as long as temperatures stay above 5°C. Seedlings should spend at least one night outside before planting.

If temperatures below 5° are predicted, bring them indoors or cover them with frost cloths.

Planting out seedlings

Whether you've grown your own or bought your seedlings, planting out is an important step in establishing your garden!

Choose the right day. 

Planting is most successful on a warm but cloudy day (direct sun can dry out or burn seedlings).

Check the recommended planting dates for each variety - some seedlings can be moved outside as soon as the soil thaws, while others need to wait until two weeks after the last frost (end of May/early June).

Gather your tools: 

• Bucket of water

• Hand trowel

• Compost/organic fertilizer

• Optional: Black plastic bags and/or cloches

Prepare your bed: 

1. Loosen and smooth the soil.

2. Remove any weeds.

3. Lay out plastic bags or set up cloches to warm the soil for sun-loving plants such as peppers and eggplants.

Plant!