Hardening off in the Polytunnel

[Catherine]

Can anyone tell me that if your seedlings grow in the polytunnel and are looking nice and healthy. i.e. Broad beans. Do I need to harden them off by placing outside for a few days before planting in the beds. It is cold in there and they are looking really healthy so I am not sure what to do. These are the ones that managed to grow with out mouse intervention. I lost three weeks of planting to the mice. - another posting.

[richard p]

im putting mine outside by day for a week or so then planting out when a warm wet night is forcast, got about half planted out now.

[Johnboy]

Hi Catherine,
The temperatures in a poly tunnel can actually be colder than outside. As I explained in another thread that my tunnel is only protected by anti White Fly netting at both ends and I do not take them outside to harden them off and after many years of doing this I have never had any difficulty.
I assume that they are hardened as they grow and plant out from the tunnel direct.
JB.