Master My Garden Podcast

-EP273 The Art of Hardening Off: Preparing Seedlings for Harsh Weather. How To Ensure Progress In Mixed Weather, Hardening Off Young Plants & More


Listen Later

Send Me A Message!!

The weather's dramatic shift from perfect spring warmth to a chaotic mix of snow, torrential rain, hail, and wind serves as a powerful reminder that April gardening requires vigilance and protection strategies. This sudden weather whiplash threatens newly planted seedlings and emerging growth after weeks of productive sowing and planting.

Hardening off becomes crucial during these transitional periods. Whether using a cold frame to gradually introduce outdoor conditions or bringing trays in and out daily, this process gives seedlings their best chance of survival when weather turns hostile. Bio-netting and enviro-mesh provide essential protection against April's weather extremes while still allowing airflow and moisture to reach your plants. Creating proper hoop supports prevents protective coverings from damaging tender growth during wind events.

Beyond weather challenges, spring brings opportunistic pests. Pigeons swoop in to feast on brassicas and lettuces when little else is available in the natural landscape. Slugs and snails emerge with increasing moisture levels, particularly threatening dahlias and hostas as they first peek through the soil. For warm-season crops like tomatoes, daily gentle brushing of foliage triggers stem-strengthening hormones that create more resilient plants before their final move to polytunnels.

Understanding your local last frost date allows proper timing for heat-loving crops while implementing these protection strategies ensures continuous harvests through proper succession planting. These simple yet effective techniques transform vulnerable spring plantings into resilient, productive garden plots despite April's weather rollercoaster.

Share your gardening journey or questions through social media - I'm active on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok! The podcast is also available weekly on YouTube. Have a specific gardening question? Message me on any platform, and I'll address it in an upcoming episode. Happy gardening!

Support the show

If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email: [email protected]

Master My Garden Courses:
https://mastermygarden.com/courses/


Check out Master My Garden on the following channels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/

Until next week
Happy gardening
John

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Master My Garden PodcastBy John Jones

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

3 ratings


More shows like Master My Garden Podcast

View all
Gardeners' Question Time by BBC Radio 4

Gardeners' Question Time

271 Listeners

Gardeners' Corner by BBC Radio Ulster

Gardeners' Corner

100 Listeners

Gardening with the RHS by Royal Horticultural Society

Gardening with the RHS

258 Listeners

The Pat Kenny Show Highlights by Newstalk

The Pat Kenny Show Highlights

47 Listeners

The Beginner's Garden with Jill McSheehy by Jill McSheehy

The Beginner's Garden with Jill McSheehy

790 Listeners

Real Health with Karl Henry by Irish Independent

Real Health with Karl Henry

37 Listeners

Roots and All - Gardening Podcast by Sarah Wilson

Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

54 Listeners

The Organic Gardening Podcast by Garden Organic

The Organic Gardening Podcast

89 Listeners

Garden Basics with Farmer Fred by Fred Hoffman

Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

265 Listeners

BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Podcast by Immediate Media

BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Podcast

307 Listeners

The Cut Flower Podcast by Roz Chandler

The Cut Flower Podcast

29 Listeners

grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends by Sarah Raven

grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends

211 Listeners

The Mario Rosenstock Podcast by Mario Rosenstock

The Mario Rosenstock Podcast

30 Listeners

Talking Gardens by Our Media

Talking Gardens

49 Listeners

The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy by Ryan Tubridy

The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy

52 Listeners