Menu

How to Transfer Starter Plants to Your Outdoor Garden

Raising plants from seeds can be an economical and rewarding way to add variety to your garden. Many varieties of flowers and vegetables are not available at your local nursery or home improvement store. Last month, we discussed how to grow plants from seed indoors in preparation for spring planting. Now let’s discuss the proper way to move those starter plants to the outdoor garden.

Steps to Transfer Starter Plants

It’s risky to move seedlings directly from the protected environment of your home or shed to the garden. After being shielded from the elements for weeks, seedlings need a gradual transition to the great outdoors. This process is called “hardening off.”

  • Plan for hardening off. Consult your seed packaging to determine when your variety can survive outdoors. Hardy plants can be hardened off when the outside temperature is consistently above 40°F. Tender plants, including tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, cannot tolerate frost and should be hardened off at 60°F.

  • Watch the weather. To protect your investment, it’s best to plant later rather than earlier. Most plants should be kept indoors until the last frost date for your area has passed and the soil has warmed.

  • Acclimate plants to the outdoors. About 10 days before you plan to transplant, place seedlings in a protected spot outdoors, shielded from direct sun and wind. Start with two to three hours of exposure per day, and gradually increase exposure a few hours at a time. Bring the plants inside at night. Gradually reduce watering and avoid fertilizing plants during this time.

  • Pay attention to forecast lows. If temperatures below your seedlings’ minimum temperature are forecast, keep the plants indoors.

  • Transplant plants. While the seedlings are hardening off, prepare the garden soil by mixing in compost and the recommended amount of fertilizer. After transplanting, be sure to water plants well and use a weak fertilizer solution to help avoid transplant shock.

  • Cover plants. To be safe, temporarily shield transplants from sun and wind by covering them for at least two days after transplanting. Increase this time if weather is inclement.

Get Your Own Garden Shed

Garden sheds are the perfect place to store lawn and garden tools, supplies and more, and can add wonderful character to your garden! Get an outdoor building tailored to your needs and constructed of beautiful, durable LP® Shed products. Find out where to buy sheds featuring LP products by calling (844) 5LP-SHED or contact a shed dealer near you.

Continue Reading

Resiliency Solutions

5 min

Introducing LP® SmartSide® ExpertFinish® Naturals Collection: Nature-Inspired Beauty Meets Engineered Performance

We’re excited to introduce the LP® SmartSide® ExpertFinish® Naturals Collection, a bold new addition to our trusted line of engineered wood siding and trim that delivers the warmth and beauty of nature with the advanced protection and performance builders and homeowners expect.

Continue Reading

Sustainability Solutions

5 min
Building a More Sustainable Future with LP Building Solutions

In today’s world, sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, it’s a blueprint for responsible living and smarter building. As the construction industry seeks ways to reduce its environmental footprint, LP Building Solutions is focused on providing innovative building materials for eco-conscious builders to help reshape what it means to build sustainably

Resiliency Solutions

5 min
Top Exterior Design Trends for 2025 - Featuring LP Building Solutions Products

The design world is constantly evolving, and 2025 is shaping up to be a year of bold choices, natural aesthetics, and performance-driven materials. For builders, remodelers, and homeowners alike, staying ahead of these trends means combining beautiful design with dependable durability. That’s where LP Building Solutions products shine, delivering both the visual appeal and the structural strength that modern builds demand.

Labor Solutions

5 min
Choosing the Right LP® Structural Solutions Product for Your Build

When it comes to building strong, reliable, and high-performing structures, the materials you choose matter. At LP Building Solutions, we understand that every project, whether it’s a single-family home or a multifamily development, requires structural components that meet your needs for strength, durability, and efficiency.