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Re: Problem after placing tomato plants outdoors temporarily

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

At 06:41 PM 3/25/00 -0800, Tom Scut wrote:
>
>You absolutely need to gradually introduce any indoor started seedlings to
>outdoor conditions. The sun is a lot more powerful than those puny
>fluorescents. Most sources recommend starting off with 1-2 hours and
>doubling the exposure daily over the course of a week or two. Do not put new
>seedlings in direct sunlight at first, they will fry and burn and may die. I
>put mine in a sheltered shaded area to start and then move them into the
>open area with sun 

Also remember this is true if you buy plants by mail. I lost some last
summer or early fall because I didn't realize that after a period of
darkness in transit, the harsh southern sun would fry those tender leaves. 

I have two places I now use for hardening off (or holding some plants til
planting) -- one is on a table under the window in the garage which faces
SSW but because of all the trees on that side of the house get lots of
light, but all of it filtered. The other is on a table behind the garage
(facing WNW) under a large-ish overhang. There too they get lots of light,
but only late in the afternoon is it direct sunlight and if the tray is
entirely under the overhang, still no direct sunlight (otherwise I have to
move them back into the garage when the sun reaches that point the first
few days).

My geraniums and fuschia overwintered very well on that table in the
garage, btw. (Hooray!)

Patricia
West Georgia, Zone 7b


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