Hardening Off Seedlings Started Indoors

Today was absolutely beautiful outside. It's my great hope that we'll have Spring now, but one can never be too confident with Georgia weather. After all, it was snowing yesterday morning!

In my pure giddiness due to the lovely weather, I eagerly brought out all my seedlings so that they could experience real sunshine! I set them up in a nice sunny spot on top of the old Jeep that we need to sell for scrap.

A few hours later, after having mulched several raised beds, I was concerned that the hood of the Jeep might be getting too hot for the tender seedlings, so I moved them to the grass. I left them on their own there until the sun started to go down, then I moved everyone back indoors.

Upon examination, I had lost three seedlings to improper hardening off. They had endured to much sunshine too quickly.

I really should have known better, as I have made this mistake in the past. However, I feel fortunate that only 3 of 30 cups didn't make it. Some of them had been put in the sun previously for small amounts of time, like during my lunch hour from 12 to 1:00 on days when it was sunny. I did not keep track of which ones went out and which ones didn't, but I'd be willing to bet that these three pitiful ones had never been outside before.

Here are the others, who had a much better experience in the sun.

Especially proud of basil, bottom left, more basil thoughts soon. 

Moral of the story:  There is a reason why experienced gardeners suggest careful hardening off of delicate seedlings. Even though warm weather and sunshine is incredibly exciting after what seems like a billion months of winter, small doses is the way to go.