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Start Seeds Step-by-Step
Step 4 – Hardening Off
 About a week before the hardening off process is about to take place, you must begin to slow down the growth of the plants by watering them less, using no fertilizer, and keeping temperatures on the cool side in anticipation for the outdoor climate. What this does is to cause the plant to stop growing UP and to start growing OUT. That is, to become shorter but thicker, producing more stout, sturdy plants. This will increase their chances for survival in the outdoor garden. Plants that are too tall and spindly can be broken with a good Spring wind, so the object here is to thicken and strengthen the plants, not to get them to grow higher.
About a week before the plants are to be placed into the outdoor garden, begin to set them outdoors in a sheltered (shaded) place, especially away from high winds. Start for an hour or two at first and increase the time outdoors by an hour or two each day. This can be quite a shock to the young plants, because the daylight (light spectrum) outside is much stronger, and the weather much cooler, than it was under the florescent lights. The outdoor winds will dry out the plants quickly, so check daily and water if necessary, but only enough water to prevent wilting. Try not to promote vertical growth with lots of water and fertilizer. The object is to keep the plants small, thick and tough, not tall, lanky and thin.
Some varieties can tolerate very cool outside temperatures, such as cabbage and lettuce. Other types, such as cucumbers and tomatoes, don’t tolerate the cold so well. So you must be very careful which varieties you place outside and how long you keep them there. For instance, if a cold, windy day is forecast, keep the tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers perhaps in a breezeway and only place the cold-hardy plants, like cabbage, lettuce and broccoli outside. Or maybe cover the tomatoes and peppers with a clear piece of plastic or light cloth if they are outside on cold days. Preferably on a cloudy, calm day, ideally with a light drizzle, transplant the young plants into the outdoor garden, and say your prayers. Fertilize and water them good.
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