Our annual plant sale was held Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Pybus Market in Wenatchee, Washington. Enthusiast shoppers quickly scooped up our veggies, perennials, and grasses. Thank you for making this important fundraiser a success. We look forward to your support in April, 2025.
Proceeds from the sale, sponsored by the Chelan County Master Gardener Foundation, are essential to support our education programs, Continuing Education Garden, farmers market booths, fairs, and special projects. Visit the CEG on Western at Springwater to see how your support beautifies our community and provides an educational resource for gardeners.
Before you Plant– Hardening Off Plants
For any plants that are raised in a greenhouse, we recommend “hardening off” before planting them.
Seedlings such as half-hardy annuals, half-hardy perennials and many vegetables that are started indoors with heat must be gradually acclimated to the stronger light, winds and generally cooler night temperatures of the outdoors prior to planting out in their final locations. This conditioning is known as hardening-off. It takes anywhere from seven to fourteen days. The correct timing of plants for both hardening off and final site planting depends on the plants genetic cold hardiness and climate factors for the particular area.
When seedlings have reached an appropriate size and the timing is right for the individual plants to go outdoors into their final location, start the process of hardening off.
- Place pots or flats outdoors for several hours a day in a location of some morning sun and with protection from winds, and severe cold.
- Return them to the protection of an unheated porch, garage or greenhouse in late afternoon and overnight.
- Each day, for one to two weeks, increase the amount of time plants are outdoors and increase the light they receive to the appropriate light levels, eventually leaving them outdoors all night.
- At the end of the period, and after all risk of frost passes, plants are fully ready to go into the garden. Remember to protect them from predicted freezing winds and heavy rains which can dislodge seedlings.