Category Archives: transplant

Hardening Off – The Experiment Continues

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Back in March, the gardening itch overtook me and I decided to take another shot at starting seeds early indoors for spring transplanting outdoors. Last season’s attempt at starting seeds went okay until I moved the plants into the Lot. They all promptly died. This was my introduction to “hardening off.”

First Things First

At the beginning of this experiment, I wanted to see what the difference results were between potting soil and seed starting mix. Throughout their growth, both sets of seedlings had the same light, water, and temperature. The plants had an easier time with the seed starting mix. Here is a shot from April 11th when I transplanted some of the seedlings into larger pots. The seed starting mix is on the left and the potting soil is on the right.

Seedling Tray

Weaklings!

Hardening off is the process by which a gardener gradually transitions an early-start seedling from the cozy indoors to the wild outdoors. When seeds are started indoors, the environment is controlled in as many ways as possible. Water, light, temperature, and wind (the absence off) is regulated. The plant itself is fragile and not yet as strong as it will be outside in the garden. Here are some of the same seedlings as above ready to start the adventure.

Grown Seedlings

It’s All About Gradual Acclimation

After surfing around The Internets, I found a handful of university sites that gave tips on how to harden off plants. Here is what I found to be the general consensus:

  1. Set seedlings outside in a somewhat shaded, protected (from the wind) area for an hour or two. Bring back in afterward.
  2. Each day, over a period of about 7-10 days, increase exposure to sun and outside elements by an hour.
  3. Do not fertilize during this process.
  4. Sources vary on whether or not seedlings’ watering routine should be cut back as well.
  5. Once in the garden, the seedlings can receive a weak fertilizer solution to help ease transplant shock and get them growing again.

Sounds easy enough.

But Remember…

  • Watch out for low evening temperatures. If it is going to dip lower than the plant likes (it’s hardiness), simply cover it for the night.
  • When transplanting, pick an overcast day so the seedlings are not dealing with the new digs AND a bright sun at the same time.
  • As when planting any new member in the garden, let watering settle the soil around the plant instead of pressing hard and compacting the soil around the seedling’s roots.

These are all ideal conditions for the hardening off process. The plants will not instantly drop dead if the guidelines are not strictly followed. So, beginning this week, our seedlings will begin their journey to great outdoors that is the Lot.

To Do

compost, sidewalk bed, to do, transplant,

This past Thursday and Friday, the temperature around here spiked into the upper fifties. At the stroke of 5:00, I rushed home and was outside cleaning up the garden. It was wonderful. All of my irises, sedum and ornamental grasses are cut back. Bulbs are poking out of the ground all over our lot. Some of them I haven’t seen before. I’m so excited. It’s like Christmas.

Today it’s raining. Tomorrow it’s supposed to rain. So, I’m stuck inside thinking of the projects I would like to accomplish outside this season.

Transplant Sidewalk Bed

We have water coming into our basement whenever there is a hard rain, so we’ll be redoing the grading on this side of the house. As a result, everything in this sidewalk bed has to be moved. There are irises, lilies, astilbe, sedum, coral bells and a peony. Last fall, I already gave Mom G two carpet roses from this bed. She has much more room at her place for the sprawling type of plants. 
Transplant a Rose Bush
I have so much homework to do on roses. My friend, Miss A, has the most unbelievable gorgeous rose bush at her place. I on the other hand, don’t know what I am doing with roses. What I do know is I cannot have our rose bush in the front bed climbing out of there again and trying to catch neighbors. I think it was getting ideas from those irises. Anyway, the rose bush is tucked between two evergreen bushes up front. It doesn’t have enough sun or room to do well up there. I’m going to attempt to move it into the backyard along the fence line.
Learn about Composting
When we moved in, there was already a compost pile started in the back yard. However, much of it was lawn clippings and leaves that had not been shredded. Being a free standing pile of “stuff,” it was quite a task to get it into something resembling order. I’m not sure how I want to handle it this summer. It’d be nice to contain it somehow. Last summer it was in the process of kicking down our fence. This one will require some more brainstorming and research.
Build a Rain Barrel
Many gardeners I know swear by rainwater. They say their plants are just happier receiving rainwater over city/well water. My grandmother who lives in Europe is an avid gardener. One thing I noticed about the gardens over there are the different containers used to collect rainwater. The rainwater is then used to water the plants in the garden. What a great idea. It seems a much more efficient use of resources.
After reading various sets of instructions on how to build one, I think I can handle it. I’ll be referencing a combination of this and this when it’s time to construct one.