| I planted many perennial and biennial seeds indoors under my light system. They have all come up and are now gigantic! How soon can I plant them outdoors? Some of my outdoor perennials are already coming up, but there is still a frost danger. Some of my friends say the perennials will be okay. Is this true? If not, how can I keep my plants happy indoors for another month? |
| It depends on the hardiness of the plants, but I would wait a little while, then gradually harden the new plants off by bringing them outdoors gradually. Place them in a sheltered place for an hour or two the first day, gradually increasing their daily time outdoors over a week or two until they are out full-time. Keep a close eye on them while they are hardening off--small pots dry out quickly, and tender plants can get sunburned! I suggest you plan your hardening off so that you can plant them just a week or two before the last frost date. You don't want to take any chances with your new plants, and expose them to a very hard frost. In the meantime, you'll need to keep them under lights, keep them well-watered, and perhaps turn a fan on in the room to increase air circulation to discourage disease. Also, keep a close eye out for insect pests. |
