i'm not an expert. BUT they look similar to mine and they are fine, look about the same height too. Just growing pains from being indoors.

i'm noticed mine curl down a little near the end of the 16 hr light cycle i have them on, and lift back up during the lights off periods.

I still have mine in the lights. Perhaps lights are too close to plants at their current height. Thanks.

Wait, you said you started hardening them off but then you say you've still got them under lights? Then how exactly were you hardening them?

We also need more info about their growing conditions. Temps, potting mix, size of pots, how you are watering, fetilizer, etc.

Rodney

Agree with Rodney - in and out and in and out is stressful on plants - harden them off or don't. If they can go out to the garden in 3-4 days then why can't they be outside all the time?

A pic of the entire plant would help as I see very stretched stem there and no idea what size pot it is in relative to the size of the plant. What type lights? How close? Your location?

Dave

As a first timer for growing from seed I tried to gather a consensus of information when I set out. I am hardening them gradually, 2 hrs. day 1, 4 hrs. day 2, etc. The plants are in 4" pots and are in seed starting mix. They have been watered when the soil dries out and I have been fertilizing once a week since they were about 4 - 6 inches tall with 1/3 strength liquid fertilizer. The room temp. has been about 68-70 in the day and around 65 at night. I am in S. Cal. Question: Today and the next few days are overcast & cloudy. Does hardening require sun or is just outside enough?

@Joelk raises a good question. I was under the impression from instruction i've read and watched when hardening them off, it is a gradual in and out procedure. Couple hours the first day, then more and more as you get closer to plant out date.

Thanks Dave. I just want to be clear on this. When they are outside for the brief increments what determines if they are doing ok? Between the brief increments are they brought back inside for brief increments? At this point am I finished with the grow lights?

Well symptoms would be like those of any less than healthy plant - wilting droopy or curling leaves, wind whipped leaves, whitish yellow spots developing on the leaves indicating sunburn or wind burn.

No like I said above they only come back inside if they show signs of stress or damage or if there is a big change in the weather conditions. As long as they are doing ok they stay out. No way to be absolute about that because it all depends on the conditions you provide them. For example a covered deck is different than a screened in porch is different than in a low tunnel made from row cover is different than box on a sunny patio is different than under a big shade tree in the yard etc. So you have to create a hardening off space for them of some kind, a transitional environment.

You are done with the grow lights UNLESS you have to bring them back inside. If you do then they need the lights again.

Dave

Thanks for making that clear Dave. Thanks for your help as always.