[Robin Redbreast]

  i had courgettes at around six inches in the greenhouse have planted them out today also took a chance with the runner beans too hopefully the warmer air that is around now will see them through as i havent hardened them off also planted my sweetcorn!
AM I CRAZY? :blink: :blink: :blink:

[Yorkie]

I think to plant out without any attempt at hardening off is slightly foolish, yes 

One way to find out if you get away with it though 

[the Kergan]

I put my runners out yesterday, but they were hardened off for a few days before hand

[allotmentann]

You are very brave! I find hardening things off at the plot very difficult because it often means having to get there twice a day and I haven't yet found a way of doing it as well as I would like to. Also, we can't visit our plots after dark so at some point they have to take a huge leap from eight o'clock at night to all the way through. I certainly think that my poor plants suffer the effects when I plant them as a result. The problem is, that it is not just temperature when it comes to hardening off, but the little plants also have to learn to cope with various intensities of light, temperatures that can fluctate rapidly and of course being blown about by wind. I do try to harden them off as well as I can because of this. I do wish I could think of something, because we can't all get to our plots every single day and really we need to, to do this. I know if they are properly hardened off they will grow faster and stronger and be less susceptible to pests and disease because they are not so stressed. I planted some climbing beans yesterday which I am sure will struggle because they have not been hardened off as well as I would like.

[Robin Redbreast]

To be fair they are not massively open with a fair amount of cover in the garden but we will see! I know the chances are not great but they seem fine this morning and with the beautiful weather we are going to be having over the next few days it has been a calculated risk I just hope that I don't get caught out, fingers crossed! Will update!

[JayG]

Hardening off can seem like a bit of a chore, and even a waste of good growing time, especially if the plants are a bit overgrown and leggy in their pots or whatever.

However, it's plants like that which need toughening up gradually most of all - with light winds, warm days and nights RR might well get away with it this time, but 9 times out of 10 it's not a good plan and can set plants back for longer than you would have spent hardening them off.

[mumofstig]

You are very brave! I find hardening things off at the plot very difficult because it often means having to get there twice a day and I haven't yet found a way of doing it as well as I would like to. Also, we can't visit our plots after dark so at some point they have to take a huge leap from eight o'clock at night to all the way through. I certainly think that my poor plants suffer the effects when I plant them as a result.

Sometimes giving them a fleece or enviromesh cover just for a few days makes a lot of difference.

It takes the brunt of any cold winds just while the plant is acclimatising  

[Totty]

Just planted out first four runners, 12 sweetcorn, 2 courgettes one crown prince and the atlantic giant. Weather here is meant to be very warm for time of year with no risk of a slightly chilly night for at least a week. Weather for next 18 days says staying at or above average for time of year with possible stronger breezes. We will be in june soon after all.

Totty

[allotmentann]

Hi Mumofstig, yes I will have to get some fleece and try that. Hardening off is far easier at home when you can just nip in and out!

[sowitgrowit]

Just planted out first four runners, 12 sweetcorn, 2 courgettes one crown prince and the atlantic giant. Weather here is meant to be very warm for time of year with no risk of a slightly chilly night for at least a week. Weather for next 18 days says staying at or above average for time of year with possible stronger breezes. We will be in june soon after all.

Totty

I've also got runners out in my (sheltered) garden; french beans and courgettes on the rather more exposed allotment, however all were hardened for a while first and also out temperatures are averaging about 20C during the day and 10C during the night.  Maybe a small gamble but we will see.  I am planning successional sowing of the frenchies so I already have some more germinating which could be their replacements.

Oh, and this morning my tomatoes had flowers (still indoors in the shed) - hoorah!

[Robin Redbreast]

 

Well so far so good everything looking fine and wather is hot and smoking which is grrrrreat! all plants surviving looking good pheeeeew next year i will plan better for hardening off but seems to have paid off so far anyway!!!!

[allotmentann]

So pleased everything is doing well. Everyone seems to be planting out like crazy at the minute. So let's hope that we are all ok!