“Hardening Off”
Acclimating
Your Plants before planting them out
WeeBee
Farms takes pride in selling you plants that are ready for planting today.
However, during periods of extreme weather, we need to protect the plants in
the greenhouse and they may need re-acclimated to the outdoors. Or you may have
kept your plants indoors or in the shade for a few days and will need to harden
them off yourself before planting.
How to get
your plants ready for planting
Acclimating
your plants to the outdoors is extremely important to their survival. Because
plants usually are grown in greenhouses, they've been pampered. They need to be
introduced slowly to the elements of wind and intense sun. Initially, you will
put plants outdoors only for short periods of time, perhaps for an hour.
(If you see it wilting, put it back in the shade for a while). You'll want to
set them in a semi-shaded area of the yard. Gradually, you will increase the
time plants are kept outdoors; you also will gradually increase their exposure
to sun and wind. After 7 to 10 days, these plants will be ready.
Do
not cut back on watering. Plants that are in small pots dry out very quickly
and need to be kept moist. Plants are also more susceptible to heat and cold in
their small pots. Once in the ground, the soil will moderate the temperatures.
It's
a good idea to transplant on a cloudy day or in the evening, when the plants
won't get full exposure to the hot sun on their first day in the ground. Water
the plants and planting hole deeply.
Cold weather
plants (lettuce, kale, broccoli, chard, peas, etc)
Most
of these can be planted in the first week of April and can withstand,
temperatures well below freezing, as well as snow. These need to be acclimated
gradually, and are especially intolerant of heat .
Hot Weather
Plants (Basil, Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, Squash, Beans)
We
don't plant our tomatoes or basil out until May 31st, Peppers a week or two
later. They will die at 32 degrees, and they do NOT like cold ground
temperatures, especially peppers and cucumbers. We have been successful at
growing tomatoes and peppers for 20 years. We are in Boulder County 10 miles
north of Boulder. Boulderites may be able to get away with planting a week or
so earlier. See weebeefarms.blogspot.com
