Hardening off temps

esox07 (4b) Wisconsin

11 years ago

At what outside temps would you start hardening off your plants? Is 50 and sunny good enough?
Bruce

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

uncle_t
11 years ago
Temperature, winds and sun exposure are the main factors. I like minimum 60* F and little or no wind on the first day. Wind can really damage unhardened plants at even ideal temps.
Bill_Missy
11 years ago
I am liking anything above 65. However, we are having a lot of fluctuation of temps going on now. I put mine outside in the sun yesterday and it was about 70 degrees. Today the high is 44. On these colder days like today I dont put mine out. But what does this do to the harding off process? If you skip a few days because of mother nature, I am thinking that it has to extend the process correct?

2 days nice and harden off, then 4-6 days of to cold....

Bill
Related Discussions
Hardening off too much too soon
Q
Comments (3)
Sun/wind scald...peppers can sometimes handle it, though. If you see new growth coming up from the apex/tip of the plant producing new leaves you might be able to nurse them through. When it comes to hardening them off, it's baby steps for the first few days. You might want to wait until you come home and start by putting them out for just a couple hours in the future for the first few days of hardening off. The wind tolerance of leaves is as important, sometimes more important, than the sun tolerance. It's all about building up a bit of outer protection on the leaves to lessen water loss and sun/wind beating down on them. It's a good idea to get them first initially used to the wind, so a shaded or part-shaded are works.
...See More
Hardening Off Tomatos in Topsy Turvy Temps
Q
Comments (7)
I'm glad you clarified that, because I thought the same thing Larry did, Susan, and I was horrified....thinking to myself "No, Susan, No." Now I am ROTFL because I knew that you knew better than to put a poor, unsuspecting plant in a Topsy-Turvy thing and I couldn't figure out what in the world was going on. Forgive me for thinking you'd lost your mind. : ) I'd move those plants back inside because you cannot count on a forecast to be that precise and if they are saying 40 degrees now, it could go lower. Last week our forecast low was for 36, and then the forecast dropped to 34, and our actual temperature was 28. This week, it was for 39, and then they dropped it to 37 yesterday and now it is 34....so maybe we'll see 28 again if the skies are clear. When they keep dropping the forecast low as the cold night approaches, it makes me nervous to the point that I cover up everything I possibly can within reason. Even 40 degrees is a temperature the plants won't like, even though it won't cause freeze damage. Remember, though, that frost can and does form at above-freezing temperatures up to 39 or even 40 degrees (a hard lesson I was slow to learn after we moved here because it never happened in Fort Worth) so don't take any chances with your plants. Dawn
...See More
Minimum temps for hardening off tropicals?
Q
Comments (8)
Good question. This is what I do to make life easier for myself and less risky for the plants. I take my plants out in two waves. In the first wave, I haul out the hardier subtropicals that I've been overwintering in a detached minimally heated garage/semi-converted greenhouse. This plants have been kept frost free but relatively cool over winter (between about 60 F and 40F). I wait for minimum temps to stay above 38 F.. I can usually do this in the first half of April. This group includes all my citrus (lemons, oranges, kumquats, etc.), Washingtonia fans, date palms, and hardier cycads. In the second wave, I move out the true tropicals (bananas, aroids, and tender palms (such as the Manila palms). Generally day temps are in the upper 60's-70's (nights 50's). I can often do this by late April. This spring, I haven't had any problem with the first wave (despite some near record cold temps recently), and am waiting for the weather to cooperate more before starting to haul out the more tropical species. Of the plants that you mentioned, I've already put out the epiphyllum. If the cannas have been in active growth, I'd hold off, the only bananas I have out is the Chinese and Japanese varieties, I know nothing of brugs, fushias should be fine outside, as for the annual--it really depends (some are quite tropical),plumbago should be okay, jasmines (depends on the variety). Although I put my tropical hibiscus out, they are sort of intermediate in cold/cool tolerance (mine seem okay though and they've been out for about two and a half weeks (did sun burn though). Hope this was helpful and good luck!
...See More
hardening off my tomatoes
Q
Comments (19)
The plants were about 3 inches last Thursday, and I buried them so only about 1/2 an inch was showing. I used potting soil when I first planted them and during my 1st repotting I used potting soil with most of the tomatoes but I experimented with some of them using something called "Dick's Super Soil" It is soil that is taken from Northern Minnesota that is sort of like a mix between compost and peat moss, (a man named Dick runs it) My father in law who is a big vegetable gardener had recommended that I put some of it in my raised beds after he tried it. The tomatoes that I used the Dick's super soil seemed taller and stronger, so for my 2nd repotting I used about 2/3 Dick's Super soil and about 1/3 of a soil mixture I took from a mixture I put in my raised beds. But overall I feel like they are growing so slowly. I used grow lights until the I repotted them the first time, then there wasn't enough room to fit them, so then I moved them to a table next to my large living room window.
...See More
esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
Original Author
11 years ago
I will have a wait for 60 degrees. I think I have done it at 50 before with no ill affects. Also, if I do it one or two days in a row and then can't do it for several days, I don't think you really have to start from scratch or anything, they don't get soft that quick. I would just maybe set their schedule back slightly and keep going on schedule.
Bruce
cjohansen
11 years ago
Just checked some normalized temperatures (based on 30 years of data) for my area and found:
- April: 40
- May: 51
- June: 60
- July: 61
Sure hope I don't have to wait for 70 before hardening off...
esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
Original Author
11 years ago
chohansen, You are certainly in a tough pepper growing climate.
Bruce
cjohansen
11 years ago
Yeah, it's tough :( I'm planning to device a MacGyver green house of some sort. The temps above are averages, though. Day temperature is a little better. Last year the average temperature throughout the summer was 60, with 45 days of 68+. Not exactly tropical...
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
11 years ago
Yes, 60F or warmer, and little wind.
If there's wind, you can put seedlings in a cardboard box...a trick someone mentioned here.

Josh
esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
Original Author
11 years ago
I got one of those small 4 tier green houses for $15 on sale a couple months ago. I am gonna stick that outside and with some sun, I will get 60's and up even when it is in the 40's.
Bruce

Related Stories

LIFE 6 Ways to Cool Off Without Air Conditioning

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

These methods can reduce temperatures in the home and save on energy bills

Full Story

212

GREEN BUILDING Off the Grid: Ready to Pull the Plug on City Power?

By Jen Dalley //

What to consider if you want to stop relying on public utilities — or just have a more energy-efficient home

Full Story

145

GREEN BUILDING Houzz Tour: Off-the-Grid Island Home Circles a Sunny Courtyard

By Mitchell Parker

A circular home is a cozy spot for gardening, woodworking and plenty of reading

Full Story

171

GREEN BUILDING Houzz Tour: Going Completely Off the Grid in Nova Scotia

By Mitchell Parker

Full Story

116

LIFE Slow Living 101: Tips for Turning Off the Chaos

By Laura Gaskill

It may feel as though you're too busy to slow down and enjoy life. But even little changes can have a big effect

Full Story

160

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Family Builds Off the Grid Near the Cascade Mountains

By Mitchell Parker

Homeowners carefully construct a weekend home on 20 acres in remote northeast Washington

Full Story

129

DECORATING GUIDES Take the Chill Off With Cozy Winter Textures

By Becky Harris

Stay warm this fall and winter with your favorite applications of velvet, wool and knits and plenty of woodsy accents

Full Story

REMODELING GUIDES 5 Hot Tips for Home Saunas

By Lisa Frederick

Bask in your very own heated haven, indoors or out. This overview will get you off to a glowing start

Full Story

MONTHLY HOME CHECKLISTS Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

By Laura Gaskill

Prep your house and yard for cold weather with this list of things to do in an hour or over a weekend

Full Story

108

MONTHLY HOME CHECKLISTS Your April Checklist for a Smooth-Running Home

By Laura Gaskill

Shake off the winter blues and spring into action to get your home in the spirit of the new season

Full Story

Hardening off temps

Comments (8)

uncle_t

Bill_Missy

Related Discussions

esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
Original Author

cjohansen

esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
Original Author

cjohansen

greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a

esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Hardening off temps

Comments (8)

uncle_t

Bill_Missy

Related Discussions

esox07 (4b) WisconsinOriginal Author

cjohansen

esox07 (4b) WisconsinOriginal Author

cjohansen

greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a

esox07 (4b) WisconsinOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
Original Author

esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
Original Author

esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
Original Author