According to the Old Farmers Almanac, “transplanting” means moving seedlings from pots inside to garden soil outside.
Now that you’ve hardened off your plants, they’re ready to transplant. Keep the soil moist at all times during the hardening-off period. Each day, leave your seedlings outside for an hour more than you did the previous one, gradually exposing them to more sunlight and wind until they are able to spend an entire night outside. Lengthen outdoor time for your plants bit by bit. Place your seedlings outside for an hour or two in mid- to late-afternoon, in a spot that will protect them from direct wind and sunlight. (Check the USDA Hardiness Zone Map to get an idea of when you might begin this process in your region.) When hardening off your plants, be sure to follow these steps: Why? Warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers, for example, can be weakened by temperatures that are too cool. Outdoor temperatures should reach at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit before you begin the hardening-off process. During this period, your plants are getting sturdier, making them better able to adapt to the vagaries of summer weather. And while hardening off doesn’t take a lot of time, it does require some vigilance. This important step reduces the chance of transplant shock and promotes healthy growth. Hardening off simply means gradually acclimating plants started indoors to the outdoor elements-sunlight, wind, and rain-that they will face for the rest of the growing season. But before you move your seedlings from your home or greenhouse into your garden-or, in gardening lingo, transplant them!-you’ll want to harden them off. You’ve spent time, energy, and effort nurturing those veggie, herb, and flower starts-and now it’s time to introduce them to the great outdoors.
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