[kermit]

Due to time shortage / kid playing up, didnt have time to harden off some of my seedlings (peas, sweet peas, runners, courgttes).  As you'd expect, they've done next to no growth in the last 2 weeks, despite some recent sun and hot weather.  Question is, will they eventually kick off again or is hardening off so important that they will never now grow properly?

[mumofstig]

If they lived.....they'll be fine Even the hardened off stuff sometimes suffers a check..it's the transplanting that bothers them i think...but they do get going again

[barney rubble]

I'd agree with mum - as virtually a complete novice to veg growing  I'd grown everything outside (no choice - no greenhouse or space inside). If its going to survive it will do - plants like humans seem to be remarkably adapatble to conditions. The promise of good weather this weekend will doubtless help too

[Rowan]

Some one said today on radio4 that the only thing that gets in the way of a plant growing is the gardener. Plants are designed to grow and flower and produce fruit, so like the others have said if it lives it'll produce something!

Ro

[goose]

i have never been very good at hardening off...i kind of forget to put them out/in ..although i do notice you are in perthshire, and i am down south so perhaps i have that on my side (although i think you had a much better summer than us last year ). 

i like the 'shove it outside and see how it does' plan, with a couple of back ups in the cold frame if they fail

[freemeals]

i meticulously hardened things off this year and found that some plants have still been effected badly and others not.  my squash and cabbages weren't at all happy. some died - yet as soon as i stuck them in the ground they're as happy as can be. can't help thinking i should have just planted them straight out without all the trouble. i think it partly depends on the plant species. the daily weather conditions have as big an effect in my experience - recent cold winds here on the north kent coast did some damage and that was in the day time in the sunshine. i will try netting over the cold frame next year (as in the greenhouse) because i think the initial closed cold box is too bright and hot for many plants and the small confined cold frame would have different air flow and humidity levels so you'll still get the kock back effect with more tender speacies i think.??

[DD.]

Fail to harden off at your peril.

You may get lucky and when you put plants out it's OK.

It's a bad habit to get into though.

[kermit]

Thanks for the advice folks.  Here's hoping they kick on this weekend with the sun (finally!).  And heres to doing it properly from now on   

[Brambles]

Best of luck...  I too did not harden off properly   Due to normal probs...  grandchildren!!!  Most of my plants generally survive, as long as I take frail ones in if it is really, really cold....   Go as your guts guide you is a reasonable rule of thumb, we can only do our best  :blink: