When can seedlings go outside?
Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2017 5:02 am
by shenri
Hi, starting to germinate some seeds this week. If I plant seeds now indoors in February and they germinate in about three weeks, how long before I can put them outside so they can get proper sun? I live in South Dakota and there is always a chance of freezing until about May15th. It doesn't get real warm until about June.
Re: When can seedlings go outside?
Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2017 10:55 am
by roarke
Middle of april than.
Re: When can seedlings go outside?
Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2017 1:39 pm
by steve booth
A lot will depend on what conditions you have the seedlings in indoors, ideally you want to put them outside when the outside conditions closely resemble your indoor conditions. What I am rather clumsily trying to say it is pointless putting them outside in say May when the photo period may be right if you have been growing them at 90+ degrees, the temperature difference will be a shock.
You will need to acclimate them when you move them in any case as if they are outside outdoors, rather than outside in a greenhouse or cold fram, they will never have had to contend with the evaporation of moisture due to wind passage over the leaves before, the roots will need to grow more to accommodate the increased water requirement, so it may look like they are doing nothing when really they are.
Cheers
Steve