Hardening off plants

[mrscorpio]

Hi
I have started to harden off my courgettes, I put them out in the morning and back into greenhouse at night.
However many leaves and stalks have bent over and snapped. I have trimmed these off so they dont rot.
Is this OK.

I assume I am doing the right thing or they will get a shock when they are planted in the garden.

I am also hardening off some Tomatoes for my friends, in the same fashion, and these are fine.

[WendyC]

Sounds about right to me. About a week of this should be ok, although not sure when your last frosts are as you are further north than me.

[Flummery]

I started putting mine out a couple of weeks ago. You need to put them somewhere sheltered - wind will snap leaves and stems. It's very much a 'suck it and see' process. If you get a dreadful day, leave them inside till it's better.

[chris]

Yup, harsh wind is baaaaad! My pumpkins got battered by the wind (went pretty much white). Then it chucked it down, which splat compost all over leaves, broke some stems, then the sun came out and baked them, so between wind burn, yellowing leaves due to being int ouch with damp compost for so long along splits in the stem (didn't notice!), and scorch, mine are looking pretty sorry for themselves.

Next year, I think I'll just sow direct, a bit later on.