Put them outdoors for about two hours a day for a start. Gradually introduce them outside. Obviously, if it starts to snow furiously, you will bring them back in; but you can increase the time by an hour each day until you see the weather changing, when you will let them stay out as long as you can each time. They are cold weather annuals really. And a bit tougher than some people think.

Thanks hopflower. That is exactly what I have been doing for the last several days. Today, we are experiencing temps close to 50 degrees and they have been outside all day. I think the worst of the cold temps is over.

Regards,

Rokal

I saw some sitting outside at least 3 weeks ago at the nursery on a chilly day, really nice ones, the first flowers they were offering and asked if it wasn't too early for them. No, they are the most cold hardy. I'm sure they can stand 40's, but then the deep freeze hit. I'll bet they had to take in the ones they hadn't sold yet and will be doing the same thing you're going to have to do. 2 hours sounds kind of slow though, depends on the temps outside, in the 50's should be able to go 4 hours I would think.

aliska12000,

If they were already hardened off, I think they could tolerate the conditions experienced over the last several weeks. A neighbor of mine bought pansies and planted them in the ground before the cold weather hit and they are doing just fine.

I incremented the amount of time they spent outdoors by 2 hours each day (i.e. day 1 = 2 hrs, day 2 = 4 hrs, etc.).

Yesterday, they spent the entire night outdoors with lows about 38 degrees. They seem perfectly fine.

I plan on putting mine in the ground toward the end of next week.

Regards,

Rokal