hardening off seedlings
By Nancym
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia,
Canada 
I have been growing some sweet peas in the basement under lights for the first time. They were started earlier than they should have , I realize now, but then again we don't usually have snow in May. Could someone please advise me on the process of hardening them off. I have put them out side a couple of times for a wee bit, but do not know how long they should be out and how long the process should take.
18 May, 2008
Answers
Your weather patterns in Nova Scotia will be very different to what we are used to here in the Uk, but the principles of plant care for sweet peas will be the same. Nancym, do not plant them outside unless you can protect them from frost/freezing temperatures. To harden them off leave them outside when you know they will not be subjected to such temperatures, if there is a chance that they may be you will need to protect them either by bringing them in or using some form of covering such as horticultural fleece.
18 May, 2008
My sweet peas are now planted outside,I had them hardening off for about a fortnight . T aking them in at night,if it seemed there might be a frost.
18 May, 2008