14

Moving Seedlings to Your Outdoor Garden

Hardening Off

Hardening off seedlings eases their transition from
the AeroGarden to the outdoors, where they will
be exposed to full sunlight, temperature variations
and wind. It entails slowly increasing the amount
of time seedlings spend outside while still in the
comfort of the AeroGarden. Allow about 1½
weeks for hardening off. (See Sample Hardening
Off Schedule, right.)

To harden off seedlings:

• Remove Bowl (with Tray and seedlings) from
Base and bring outside.
• Return Bowl to Base when you bring it indoors.
• Keep Bowl filled with water to “Fill to Here.”
• Remember to add nutrient tablets when “Add
Nutrients” light illuminates.
• Bring Bowl inside if weather turns bad or tem-
perature is below 45°F (7.2°C). Add a day to the
hardening off schedule for any weather-related
missed days.

When to Plant

Although a clear warm day may be a nice time to
be in the garden, it is NOT what you want when
it is time to transplant your seedlings outdoors. A
perfect day for transplanting is one that is damp,
drizzly and cool. If such a day does not come your
way, then transplant seedlings near the end of the
day, when the sun is low and temperatures have
cooled. It is okay to keep your seedlings in the
Tray and AeroGarden for a little extra time if you
want to wait for the weather to cooperate or just
for convenience. Just be sure to add nutrients if
“Add Nutrients” light is on.

Once soil is prepared and seedlings are grown, it is time to harden off and transplant

seedlings to your outdoor garden. If you are new to gardening, please take a moment to

read this entire section and “Caring For Young Seedlings” before transitioning delicate

seedlings to the outdoors.

Water Garden

The day before you plant (preferably after the
hottest part of the day has passed), water your
outdoor garden or container. The moisture in
the soil will help ease the shock to your newly
transplanted seedlings. If you miss the night-before
watering, you can water early in the morning of
the day you plan to plant. Just allow plenty of time
for the water to drain before you begin transplant-
ing. Transplanting in saturated soil is not a good
idea. You’ll end up compacting the soil.

Sample Hardening Off Schedule

Day 1: P u t Bowl outside in a shady,
pro-
tected area (i.e., no wind),
for 2
hours between midmorning and
early afternoon
Day 2: As above, but outside for 4 hours
Day 3: As above, but outside for 6 hours
– start nudging the Bowl towards
sun to provide partial sun
Day 4: As above, but outside for 8 hours
and a little more sun
Day 5: As above for 4 hours and then
full sun for 4 hours
Day 6: Partial sun 2 hours full sun for 6
hours
Day 7: Full sun 8 hours
Day 8: Full sun 10 hours
Day 9: Full sun–outside 12 hours
Day 10: Outside all day and night
Day 11: Transplant
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