Once they have recovered and are looking chipper again, it’s time to harden them off. Hardening the transplants off is nothing more than getting them used to sunbathing. Like us, they can get sunburned if they spend too much time in the sun after being indoors all the time. Take them out to sunbathe. Start with a half hour and increase the time by a half hour every day until they can spend 10 to 12 hours a day in the sun. Then you can leave them out full time. However, watch the thermometer and bring them indoors overnight if there is a chance of frost or freeze. If you have a little greenhouse put them in there until it is time to plant them in the garden. You may still have to bring them indoors if there is a frost or freeze. They can be planted in the garden after the last frost date. To find the last frost date for your area, google “last frost date for my area.” The Old Farmers Almanac is a good resource.
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