Background: I sowed my first batch of tomatoes on April 4th on those transparent 12-grid trays w/ domes that are supes trendy right now, potted them up on May 4th & 5th into 3-inch transparent pots (which I now understand may not provide the ideal darkness for their roots, live and learn), and I would like to transplant them outdoors soon.
Questions: One concern that I have (and I’m not sure how concerned I should be) is potentially introducing outdoor wildlife into my indoor environment during the hardening off phase.
- Do other gardeners worry about this or am I over thinking it? Is it basically set them on a table (not on the ground), don’t leave them out there for too long, and hope for the best?
- What other steps can I take to keep my indoor environment as sterile as possible while hardening off some plants when they’re ready?
ETA Additional Reading: Hardening Off Seedlings: How to Safely Transition Indoor Plants Outdoors
Yes I’ve found it to be a problem in previous years when bringing things back inside after the summer. I think this year I’ll just be giving everything a preemptive spray with soap when I bring it in.
Thanks for chiming in, although I think we’ve got our wires crossed. I’m asking about protecting my indoor environment from plants that have been outside for an hour or two during the hardening off phase in the spring, before transplanting them into the ground. I agree about washing stuff before bringing it inside at the end of summer, that is a good idea.