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 quarantine and observe for pests. I do the same thing when I bring new plants home. If the plants aren’t going to be a permanent residents I never let them near my permanent indoor plants. I don’t worry about things bigger then plant pest (insects/animals/ect) because either the hitchhiker won’t survive indoors or it’ll be something noticeable that I can catch and take back outside. The things capable of survival In a house already live here, the things that can’t won’t live long because the environment is actually quite hostile to them.