Gardening with Nature's Crossroads

I love starting tomatoes and peppers from seeds but about this time every spring my indoor growing shelves start to overflow.  Outside, the weather has been fluctuating wildly between hot and cold but we’re finally moving into true spring warmth and it’s time to prepare tomatoes, peppers, and other heat-loving seedlings for transplant.

Seedlings grown indoors enjoy the comforts of modern living, with artificial light and central heating.  They have no concept of wind, rain, cold temperatures, or direct sunlight.  In short, they’re spoiled.  Outdoor life is full of weather and so it’s important to “harden off” your plants to prepare them before transplanting.  This is done by gradually introducing your plants to the outdoors over a period of seven to ten days so that the plants will toughen up (literally thickening their skin and stems).

1. Start by placing your plants outdoors in a sheltered, shady spot for 2 or 3 hours, bringing them in again well before sunset.
2. Keep them protected from strong sun, wind, hard rain and cool temperatures (even if that means keeping them indoors on days with severe weather).
3. Every day, increase their time outdoors by an hour or two and start to expose them to more direct sunlight.
4. Gradually reduce the frequency of watering but do not allow the seedlings to wilt.
5. After about a week, your plants should be ready for the garden (or outdoor pot).  Transplant on a cloudy day, if possible, and water well when they are planted.
6. Most plants should be buried at the same depth they were in the seedling tray.  For tomatoes, don’t be afraid to bury them a little deep.  New roots will form from the hairs on the plant stem, forming a large root ball.
7. Remember, peppers and tomatoes will do best if nighttime temperatures stay above 60 degrees.

Experienced gardeners will often push the boundaries of early transplanting, especially in the quest for the first tomatoes of the season.   If you’d like to try your luck and transplant your seedlings before the risk of cold weather has passed, be prepared to cover them up in a hurry when you see cold weather forecasts.  Some people will cover each tomato plant with a bucket or improvise a cold frame with hoops and blankets.

Also keep in mind that tomatoes and peppers are really tropical plants.  We talk about them being “tender” and not being able to survive frosts but really they prefer nights that stay above 60 degrees.  In cool weather, they may survive being out in the garden but they are unlikely to grow much until it truly warms up so don’t worry if your tomato plants go out later than your neighbor’s.  They will catch up soon enough!

Once you’re experienced at transplanting tomatoes and peppers, you can also try your hand at starting cold weather crops such as kale and cabbage indoors in very early spring.  They can go outside when the nights are still a little chilly (above 40 degrees) and will tolerate mild frosts when they are established.  Some gardeners will even start them indoors in the summer so that they can enjoy a life of air-conditioning during the hottest time of the year and be transplanted outdoors in autumn when the weather cools a bit (although you can also plant the seeds directly in the garden in late summer).

Happy gardening!

Tags: hardening, seedlings, transplanting