{"id":1647,"date":"2023-05-09T13:45:54","date_gmt":"2023-05-09T19:45:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/echters.com\/wordpress\/?p=1647"},"modified":"2023-05-09T13:45:54","modified_gmt":"2023-05-09T19:45:54","slug":"hardening-off-annuals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/echters.com\/wordpress\/?p=1647","title":{"rendered":"Hardening Off Annuals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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HOW TO HARDEN OFF YOUR PLANTS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The gradual process of hardening off is a crucial one, like the slow but steady\u00a0 way we brace our entry into a chilly lake in summer. Jumping in all at once is a shock to our system, but if we start by sticking a toe in and slowly working our way in, the total immersion is not nearly so stressful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plants need a period of time to get used to their new homes.  The adjustment period is called “hardening off.”  We recommend a hardening off period of about three to five days.  This will give the foliage tissue time to toughen up so the plants don’t go into shock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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COLD SPRING WEATHER<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1.   Put new plants outside in a place that is protected from sun and wind.  Make sure they get watered as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0 If nights will be cooler than 38-40 degrees, bring into the garage or house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.   Move the plants out a littler farther each day toward the place in which they will be growing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.   Leave the plants out at night unless there will be low temperatures.  They still might need covering at night if there is a drastic change in the weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0 Plant on a cloudy day and they will take right off.\u00a0 Using a root stimulator when planting will help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WARM SPRING WEATHER<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The process above can be sped up, but it is basically the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOT WEATHER<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The process here is somewhat different since you are acclimating your plants to hot sun and drying winds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.   Put plants in a cool, protected place for a day or two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.   Gradually move plants towards their new location over a period of three or four days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.   Plant in the cool of the evening or on a cloudy day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.   Be prepared to shade with a shingle or board until plants are settled in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5.   Water as needed.  Always check the soil first.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

HOW TO HARDEN OFF YOUR PLANTS The gradual process of hardening off is a crucial one, like the slow but steady\u00a0 way we brace our entry into a chilly lake in summer. Jumping in all at once is a shock to our system, but if we start by sticking a toe in and slowly working … Continue reading Hardening Off Annuals<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,16,6],"tags":[60,61,20,62,63,22,33,31,64],"class_list":["post-1647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","hentry","category-annuals","category-tips","category-vegetable-garden","tag-annuals","tag-flowers","tag-gardening","tag-harden-off","tag-hardening-off","tag-plants","tag-vegetable-gardening","tag-vegetables","tag-weather","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/echters.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/echters.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/echters.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echters.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echters.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1647"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/echters.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1746,"href":"https:\/\/echters.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1647\/revisions\/1746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/echters.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echters.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echters.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}