GIVE THEM A HELPING HAND

Some of our most popular crops come from much warmer climes and need a little extra TLC before being exposed to the UK's changeable conditions. Editor Steve Ott offers some top tips to help get them off to a great start

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If you've ever gone out into the garden only to rush back indoors for a thicker jacket, imagine how your cossetted tender young plants might feel having been taken from their warm propagator or windowsill and planted outside. No running back indoors for another layer for them when plunged into a cold wind for the first time.

Yet although tomatoes, peppers, beans (all native to Central and South America) won't withstand a frost, they are tougher than they may appear and only need a little time to acclimatise.

Exposed to natural air movement and buffeting from a late spring breeze, the natural waxy layer (cuticle) that leaves develop to protect themselves from drying out will thicken and soft stems will toughen too, making them less liable to break.

Also, since this process, called 'hardening off, generally takes place over a period of 14-21 days, air and soil temperatures outdoors should naturally rise while the plants get ready for their new home.

SO WHAT IS HARDENING OFF?

This is simply the process of taking established young plants-whether grown at home or purchased online or from a garden centre and, at its most basic, placing them outside in a sheltered spot (when the weather is clement) for two to three weeks.

This avoids growth checks associated with the shock of moving them from warm, sheltered conditions and keeps them growing steadily.