Planting out (not quite hardening off)

[WeedItAndReap]

Hi

I've got a windowsill full of well germinated plants. The cucumbers are about 10-12 inches high now - but are an indoor variety (Telegraph Improved) so will only go into the unheated greenhouse. There are chillis, squash, pumpkin and courgette. Obviously I don't want to kill them, but would it be ok to start hardening them off and planting them out?

We don't seem to be forecast frost now, though the nights could still get down to 5 or 6 here, as far as I can see. Do temperatures that low damage the plant, or just slow it down?

I will try and harden them off if I can, first - daytime outside, nighttime in. Would it be too much of a shock to move them all to the unheated greenhouse? Would they still need hardening off for that? Obviously the chillis and cucumbers would stay there, but I'd want the pumpkins/squash/courgette outside as soon as they can be.

Thank you

[Penellype]

Current forecasts are for temperatures to be somewhat above normal for the next few days, with some uncertainty after that, but there doesn't seem to be any real cold on the horizon. I have decided to crack on with putting things like beans, courgettes and outdoor tomatoes into the greenhouse, although I will keep an eye out for any forecast of frost. I would think they will be fine in the greenhouse if the minimum forecast temperature is 6, as long as you keep the door shut at night. 5 is getting a tad cold, although having said that, we were forecast 2 here on Monday night and the thermometer in my back garden said the minimum it had reached was 8.

[Scarlet]

I'm in west Wilts, all my courgettes, squashes and cues etc are out in the greenhouse, they should be fine but my chillies I'm a little over protective of and they come in at night. With the warm spell we are having I am in the process of hardening my courgettes/squashes in the hope of putting them outside soon.

[Two_Sheds]

the nights could still get down to 5 or 6 here

That's too cold for your tender plants (although it's OK for tough ones like brassicas)

There's nothing at all to gain by rushing to get everything in the ground, but a lot to lose.

[WeedItAndReap]

Thanks for all your advice. I'm trying some potentially sacrificial plants under cloches, but keeping some back! So we'll see