use grow lights during hardening process?

13 years ago

Tomorrow I plan to start hardening off my tomatoes and cuke plants that I started from seed over a month ago. After I leave them outside for a couple of hours in the shade, should they go back under the grow lights when I bring them back into the garage? Is there a process to wean them off the grow lights? This part of the hardening process is fuzzy to me.

This post was edited by njitgrad on Tue, Apr 30, 13 at 21:56

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

dowlinggram
13 years ago
The reason you harden them off is to get them used to the UV light in natural sunlight. Under lights they are not exposed to it and will burn or wilt if put in direct sunlight all day. That is the only reason to harden them off but they still need light after they come back inside. They need the same amount of light as they had before. Just subtract the time outside. Gradually increase the time outside and decrease the time under the lights. Once they are outside all day you no longer need the lights
susanzone5 (NY)
13 years ago
You don't need indoor light. Leave them outdoors. Move them in and out of shade till they can stay out without sunscald. Bring them in only for really windy, rainy, cold weather. Otherwise natural light times are ok from the start of hardening.
Related Professionals
Branson Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Wilmington Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Charlottesville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Martinsburg Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Hartford Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Gainesville Landscape Contractors · Victoria Landscape Contractors · Anniston Landscape Contractors · Pittsburgh Landscape Contractors · Superior Landscape Contractors · Zanesville Architects & Building Designers · Longview Architects & Building Designers · Enfield Architects & Building Designers · Aurora Architects & Building Designers · Montréal Architects & Building Designers
susanzone5 (NY)
13 years ago
You don't need indoor light. Leave them outdoors. Move them in and out of shade till they can stay out without sunscald. Bring them in only for really windy, rainy, cold weather. Otherwise natural light times are ok from the start of hardening.