When can you put seedlings outside

12 years ago

At what temperatures can seedlings survive outdoors? Inside my house my seedlings are competing for the all the window sills and fluorescent lights and some get the short end of the stick. Can i put them outside?

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Comments (4)

morz8 - Washington Coast
12 years ago
It depends on which plants (some will tolerate no frost at all) and which Z8 you are in. This Z8 is 35F right now at dinner time and we have 2" snow predicted tomorrow morning.

Do you know your last approximate average frost date? There has been light frost here May 1 more than one year. OK for a hardened off marigold, death to something like impatiens and at very least quite damaging to a tomato.

And anything you have started indoors, even if a cold hardy perennial, will have to be gradually acclimated to the outdoors over a period of several days. For most plants started inside, it's too early/too risky to begin the process, but tell us which plants you are considering....
tn_veggie_gardner
12 years ago
Check your Farmer's Almanac to see when the average last frost date is. Add one week to be "safe." That's what I do & it hasn't failed me yet. :)
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If you can locate some old storm windows , prop them up againt a southern-facing wall and stach plants underneath. i can start putting perennials and such out immediately. I have had my perennial seedling out on the patio in ols aquariums with glass laid across the top.they made it thru the snow and cold w/o problems. I put them out early MArch. will probably put my delicates out in a couple of weeks once I get my ""cold-frames"" emptied of the lettuce and perennials. If it looks like it is going to get too cold at night, I just drag the tenders in for the night or throw an old canvas tarpover the glass. have been doing this for years now the only thing I frosted were my loofa seedlings last spring. the plants grew but refused to even form any blossoms mary Mary
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Can I move seedlings outside when its 40 degrees at night?
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get a box .. like a shoebox or something... whatever they will all fit in .... put them all in it ... and carry them outside.. full bright shade .. on nice days ... put the porchlight on when they go out ... later that night.. when you wonder why the porchlight is on.. bring them back in .. lol .. leave them in the house on windy or cold days ... or put them under something if rain is predicted... dont want to batter them ... after a week or 2 .. you can probably start leaving them in the garage overnight and not bring them in the house ... you are acclimating them to temps ... and full shade is much more light intense than thru windows ... i used to have a kids wagon with all my plants.. and it went in and out of the garage as i left the house for the day ... and of course.. year to year.. in my MI ... it varied .. and we used mothers day to plant seeds ... but it was also when we went to the nursery and bought out tender annuals... and most often planted them that day ... mostly we won ... lol .. i think MA has 3 or 4 zones.. big city name might help us ken
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californian
12 years ago
I move my seedlings outside everyday that the temperature is above 50 and bring them in at night and put them under my fluorescent lights. It is a lot of work but results in stocky, sturdy transplants that are fully hardened off.
novicegardenerevan
Original Author
12 years ago
I am growing purple coneflower, milkweed, annual phlox, zinnias and monarda thanks guys : )

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Comments (4)

morz8 - Washington Coast

tn_veggie_gardner

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When can you put seedlings outside

Comments (4)

morz8 - Washington Coast

tn_veggie_gardner

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novicegardenerevanOriginal Author

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