I don't find hardening off to be particularly challenging...it just requires my attention. It's true that it's easiest if you're around all day, since an ideal first step is to put your seedlings out for just a couple of hours. If you don't work outside the house, or if the good weather coincides with your days off, then that's easy. I'm often lucky enough to find a weekend day that cooperates. Failing that, or after that, I'll look for a nice, warm day, and put them out in the morning, near the house and on the north side. This will protect them from wind and offer only indirect light. As others have said, you can make good use of the path of the sun, so at some point I put the seedlings a bit farther from the house, where the sweep of the house's shadow will give them just a short amount of sun, and the wind will be a little stronger. Then I move them some more. I spend a lot of time reading weather reports during hardening-off time, and spend a fair bit of time planning my next steps, and trying to be flexible enough to act right away when the weather dictates...but in the early days (which are also the most fragile days), I'm also bringing things indoors every evening, so for me the greater risk is that I don't use every possible bit of outdoor time as effectively as possible, and the hardening off process takes a bit longer. I look for good days really early, too. Even my cool-weather crops won't be outdoors for good until the end of the month, but the weather reports are predicting days in the mid-50s and mid-60s this week (which conveniently coincide with my "work from home" days), so I'll probably be sending the cool-weather things out for a couple of days in the fresh air then. Even the peppers may take a little field trip on the 60+ degree day. Even if they spend the couple of weeks after that indoors, I figure that a couple of days of (even indirect) sunshine and fresh air has got to be good for them, and turning off the grow lights will be good for my electric bill.

Some considerations: 1) seeds that were planted in the hoophouse exhibit more hardiness to hoophouse conditions than those that were transplanted. That means resistance to both cold and heat. I assume that having roots in very warm soil is a source of hardiness for little plants. 2) I have 11 carboys (which I mostly use for winemaking) and 6 6-gallons buckets in there, full of water, 91 gallons of thermal ballast total, and I also have an inner plastic layer. Still, I only get 4F difference when the wind blows. When the wind does not blow, it is more like 10F. 3) Another 10F or so can be had by placing a milk jug, bottom removed, on the seedling, and sealing all around with mulch. That would be a third layer. A bit of mulch inside the seal will provide plenty CO2, Best done if you have drip in there. Probably it is a matter of having the seedling lying low in mulch, and a small hoophouse (the jug) with low surface, and also stopping any small draft from really touching the plant 4) some seedlings are better than others in the hoophouse. Melons are best, toms are a bit delicate. They don't really like hot. 5) if your temps are warmer than 65F, sunny, better open one side, or no seedling will make it.

Agreeing with Marcia. One thing you need to know when you're planting out marigolds, is to really spread their roots out and loosen the soil they're being planted in. At one time I would plant marigolds from little pots, and they would just sit there all summer never getting any bigger. Then I started direct sowing them and they were like gigantic marigold trees. I figured out (with help from GWers) that if their roots are wound up in the pot they never really figure out to branch out on their own. If they're direct sowed they develop normally. Funny thing about marigolds. I also find they like fertilizer a lot.

Yes, just show some attention to the little critters, ProvoGirl. You aren't sending them off to the big wide world right off. That comes when they are set out in the open garden. I think of the 1st couple of days as kindergarden. They race thru life fairly quickly so kindergarden lasts only a few days. Baby, baby, baby the little guys but make them sit quietly and close together. Pay special attention to their water needs as exposure increases requirements. They seem to do just fine in filtered shade for a few hours each day. Then they are on to elementary school and actually becoming accustomed to the elements. The curricula becomes more vigorous during secondary school. Don't allow them to languish on the side lines. Keeping a close eye on them is still important but they are growing up. DW says, "Let them stay out at night!" Nope, not this Dad. It won't do them a bit of good, tender things that they are sitting around in tiny containers, pretending to live the fast life. I mean, what do they know? Undergraduate work is the ticket for admission into a field. It is time for them to prove themselves. However, there's no point in carrying them this far and losing them. Now, it is time for entering the chosen field. Groundwork with easily available nutrients and water really helps guarantee success. Companionship is important, they need to feel that they aren't alone out there. And, you MAY still need to get an umbrella over them during those first few important days. (I use newspaper gathered in half-teepees and held down with rocks ;o). Steve