Acclimating Your Seedlings

Seedlings need a little extra care after shipping—especially in warm weather. Follow these steps to keep them happy until planting (up to 2 days after receiving):

1. Air & Upright: Open the clamshell top for fresh air and make sure seedlings sit upright.

2. Check Moisture: Spray seedlings with a cool mist of water and keep them in a cool, ventilated spot. If the grow medium feels dry, splash a little water directly on it. Don't let your new seedlings dry out!

3. Rest Indoors: Leave seedlings indoors in a cool space for at least 2 hours (overnight if they look stressed). Plant in your Farmstand when temps are between 55–80°F. For indoor stands, plant with the lights off.

Extra Summer Care

Hot travel can stress seedlings, so give them a little extra TLC:

• Outdoors: After the standard steps, place seedlings outside for 1–2 days in a shady spot. Mist or sprinkle with water to prevent drying before transplanting.

• Indoors: Keep them upright in the open clamshell, don’t let the grow medium dry out, and plant the next day (lights off or just before).

• Pro tip: Reset your tank before planting new seedlings for the best start. See Resets section of the Help Page.

Note: It’s normal if 1–2 seedlings look wilted on arrival. Most bounce back in a few days! If any look weak, leave them indoors overnight, then move to full shade outdoors before planting. Trim yellow or wilted side leaves to help them focus on new growth. If seedlings do not recover after 7-10 days, reach out to our Customer Service team!

Growing in Hot Weather

Extreme heat affects plants differently. Here’s what to expect and how to help:

What You’ll Notice

• Wilting: Plants may droop during the day but usually recover overnight.

• Thirst: They’ll drink more water, especially near harvest size.

• Bolting: Leafy greens may flower early, changing flavor and texture.

How to Help

• Increase your watering cycle during the hottest hours to keep roots cool.

• Mist plants with cool water for extra relief.

• Check and refill your water reservoir using cool water at least twice a week—heat makes it run low faster.

• If plants bolt, prune flowers or harvest early before quality declines.

• Keep tank water cool and shaded.

• Provide artificial shade for your Farmstand if outdoors.
  

Harvesting in Heat

Harvest in the morning or evening when plants are less stressed. This helps them recover faster.

Best Varieties for Hot Weather

Some crops thrive in the heat. Try these for best results:

• Herbs: Basil, Chives, Green Onions

• Leafy Greens: Arugula, Greens Mix, Kale

• Lettuces: Baby Lettuce Mix, Leaf Lettuces

• Veggies: Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Cucumber, Squash, Zucchini

Final Tips

• Expect seedlings to take about a week to establish. Growth speeds up in weeks 2–4.

• Check seedling pages for harvest timelines.

• Reorder seedlings in advance to keep your Farmstand full!