Successful transplanting of indoor-grown plants to the garden or field
depends largely upon their proper treatment during the two weeks
preceding the time of their removal. Spindling and tender plants will
not withstand the exposure of the open ground so well as sturdy,
well-grown plants, such as may be secured by proper handling.
Plants grown in a house, hotbed, or cold frame will require to be
hardened off before planting in the garden. By the process of hardening
off, the plants are gradually acclimated to the effects of the sun
and wind so that they will stand transplanting to the open ground.
Hardening off is usually accomplished by ventilating freely and by
reducing the amount of water applied to the plant bed. The plant bed
should not become so dry that the plants will wilt or be seriously
checked in their growth. After a few days it will be possible to leave
the plants uncovered during the entire day and on mild nights. By the
time the plants are required for setting in the garden they should be
thoroughly acclimated to outdoor conditions and can be transplanted
with but few losses.--(F. B. 255; U. Mo. Col. Ag. & Mech. Arts 33; N.
La. 81; Kan. St. Ag. Col. 70; S. Dak. 47; U. Idaho 17.)
[Illustration: TEMPORARY HOTBEDS IN A CITY BACK YARD]