Whoa. These are tiny little plants to set outside and they can't have much of a root on them if they've just germinated. No plant, no matter the size can be exposed to UV light if they have been inside without hardening off.

I think if you tried you'd end up with a bunch of dead plants

I haven't tried it, but I wonder if it's really so different from presprouting pea, corn, or bean seeds and putting them out? Why would that work but these seeds not? Just asking those who know.

The difference susan is that presprouted seed are put in the ground. When they come up they are exposed to UV light as they come through the ground. That first little sprout poking through gets full light and it will be a couple of days before it comes through completely. That is why we have to harden them off--to expose them to UV light.

Also they are in the ground where drying out is less likely that those contained in pots.

Thanks for your responses Oilpainter and Susan. Perhaps I did not make myself clear. These are not seelings/plants. They are merely seeds with a root. I had never heard the term 'pre-sprouting' mentioned by Susan, but I looked it up and it is recommended for peas, beans, and squash. I was thinking of putting my seeds in the ground where they are to grow. In that way as you said, the emerging shoot (green) will be exposed to the UV light as they come through the ground. Whether they are in the ground or in a pot, should make no difference once they are exposed to the UV gradually as they come up. Since I have about six seeds of each, and it shot up to 25 degrees today, I think I will try some of them. I hate hardening off and killed off many healthy seedlings by forgetting them outdoors.

If they just have their radical (first root) poking out, then I see no reason that you can't bury it and let it continue to grow outside. As long as you keep it watered, it should be easy for you, as you won't have to worry about hardening off. If you are frost free, then why don't you just put them right in the ground where their permanent home will be? I think all the squash, cukes, melons and gourds would prefer that to being transplanted.

You mean "shot up" to 25 degrees *celsius*, right?

Oh yes, Susan - we have been using Celcius here in Canada for many, many years.

Sarah, the temps. here are unseasonbly warm. We do not usually get these temps. until late May/early June, so I was starting them indoors to get a head start. But realizing that we are already frost-free, it occurred to me that I might be able to try this. Thank you.