harden off before move to greenhouse?
mameha
Posts: 40
in Fruit & veg
I am growing various herbs/plants from seed (basil, oregano, pepper, aubergine, tomato) on my windowsill. I want to move them to the greenhouse as soon as I can.
Do I need to do the 'harden off' step when I am moving into greenhouse or is this only needed when moving them to the garden outside with no protection?
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They'll probably be warmer in the GH than on your kitchen windowsill, especially with all the warm weather we're having, so there's no need to harden off.
Do you think I can put them out overnight in the GH now, no problem with frost etc? (i am down south).
Keep your greenhouse well ventilated during the day and closed up at night. If there is a cold spell warning some fleece draped over the trays will be enough. Once seed is set the need is for light a greenhouse is far better for all round light than a window sill. I often put trays on the floor of the greenhouse at night it will be a few degrees warmer down there, lift them back on the staging during the day.
Here in the NE, we have had hot days and some cold nights, greenhouse management is a constant job, too hot kills them too cold kills them, sowing little and often is how we do it and a frost guard plus cool air fan helps.
Hope this helps,
Frank.
My GH has an automatic vent (god knows how it works, magic!) so it opens during the day and closes when cold.
I don't have any power source or fan/heater etc in there, will just rely on the suns power.
I will move them all out the GH and reuse the windowsill and seeding trays to do a second sow. Thanks for advice.
Greenhouse automatic vents work by an expanding gas or viscous oil being heated and pushing a piston up a tube connected to the vent thus pushing it open. As it cools the piston drops back closing the vent. Think of your thermometer rising and falling, stick a rod on the end and you could open anything. Without power then you need to keep a check, my way is open the door and vents early morning, better a bit cool than overheating.
Your greenhouse should now be warm enough to set most seeds. Put a clear cover over the tray or plastic bag over a pot, as I said above light is more important than heat.
Frank.