Hardening off - when working full time?

treefrog62 4/8/2013, 9:26 am

Okay, I'm hoping I can get some advice on how to plan the hardening off process, when I work full time. Does anyone have a plan that they have used successfully?

I don't feel as if just an hour early in the morning (7-8:00 am), or even the few hours after I get home from work (6:00 pm or so) is going to be adequate after the first few days (not counting the weekends, which will be no problem). I'm wondering if I need to take some time off work, which I could do. My boyfriend will be able to assist some - although I don't know how reliable he will be. I think he gets up around 11-noon, so he could bring plants in or put them out. I just don't think this is going to provide enough of a gradual timing to work effectively.

Goosegirl 4/8/2013, 9:28 am

I wish you success! Hardening off while working F/T has always been my downfall.

GG

**camprn** 4/8/2013, 9:28 am

Put your plants outside under a table or a shrub, where they can get some air and sunlight, but wont bake all day in the sun.

quiltbea 4/8/2013, 9:52 am

+1

When you leave for work, place them in a shady spot and put them in the sun when you get home.

CapeCoddess 4/8/2013, 10:34 am

I totally understand you frustration, treefrog62. I've been putting my summer veggies out when I'm at home, but today is the first time I'm leaving them out while I'm at work. I put them on an area of the lawn next to a cedar hedge that was in full morning sun when I left and will be dappled in an hour or so, then fully shaded til I get home mid afternoon for lunch. My concern is the wind, but it seems mellow today.

I'm like a nervous mother who's kid is at his first of school. pale

CC

yolos 4/8/2013, 10:42 am

Put them under a tree or on one side of the house so they get morning sun but not afternoon sun to start with. Then gradually move them out of the shaded area a little further everyday so they can eventually get full sun all day.

plantoid 4/8/2013, 12:43 pm

Harden off on the weekend when you can be about to move or water them etc.
two day of hardening off should be OK for most plants , plant up on the sunday evening .

Coelli 4/8/2013, 2:10 pm

I have put mine in a clear plastic storage box with burlap over the top when away at work - or under any sort of support where I could put the burlap over it. I feel your pain. Smile

A couple of times I've just thrown caution to the winds and stuck them outside if the weather was warm (easier to do here in CA).

Unmutual 4/8/2013, 2:29 pm

{None Constructive Post}

My hardening off involves planting them, watering them in and walking back inside. I'm a cruel man.

**RoOsTeR** 4/8/2013, 6:57 pm

Unmutual wrote:{None Constructive Post}

My hardening off involves planting them, watering them in and walking back inside. I'm a cruel man.

I like your methods!

johnsonjlj 4/8/2013, 7:38 pm

To me, this was one of the most difficult parts of starting my own seed this year- other than waiting for them to germinate!!! I put them on my front porch which is shaded the entire day, then took Rooster's advise and put them under the shade trees in our backyard where they received a little more sun. I did move them further out into the yard away from the trees and where they could receive more sun every couple of days. All in all, I think it took about 1 1/2 weeks and, now that they're all planted, they're doing great.

edfhinton 4/8/2013, 8:52 pm

I'm hoping it will work to use my sun room for a week with the sliders open during the day to keep it from getting too warm but get fresh air flow. The sun angles changing over the day will provide more sun in the morning and lots of shade in the afternoon. Then after this for several days I hope to use a weekend to move them outside for several hours on a Saturday and Sunday and then finally in the ground on the Sunday evening.

The peas and onions will get to find out how this goes over the next two weeks. The peas are already living in the sun room this way and they grew about another inch and a half in the last 36 hours after initally drooping a bit. They are pushing 6 to 7 inches now so the sooner the beds are ready the better or they will outgrow the bamboo skewers I have with them.

-Ed

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Hardening off - when working full time?

Hardening off - when working full time?

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