Acclimating Your Seedlings
Seedlings need special temperature and hydration care for acclimation success, especially after traveling for a few days in warm temps. Follow these instructions to keep them happy and hydrated for up to 3 days:
1. Open the top of the seedling clamshell to let in fresh air and position it so the seedlings are sitting upright.
2. If the brown ‘grow medium’ feels dry, splash a small amount of water directly onto them- avoid leaves & donʼt oversaturate.
If the ‘grow medium’ feels wet to the touch, simply open the clamshell and leave plants indoors in a cool, ventilated space. Gently mist the seedlings with cool water.
3. Leave them in a cool space indoors for 2+ hrs (overnight if they look visibly stressed). Aim to plant in your Farmstand when the outdoor temperature is between 55-80F°. For indoor stands, plant with lights off.
Extra Tips for Summer Post-Shipping Care
If you order your seedlings in the summer season, help seedlings acclimate after their summer road trip with a little extra TLC. Taking some extra time before planting can help ensure they survive the transplant shock after a hot journey. If growing outdoors: After following the standard acclimation steps, but before adding to your farmstand, place your new arrivals outside for a day or two in partial sun, sprinkling with water so they don’t dry out. This will allow them to adjust to their new home, which can take extra time after a hot weather shipment. Growing indoors? After following the standard acclimation steps, let the seedlings sit upright in the open clamshell indoors, ensuring the grow medium doesn’t dry out, then plant in your Farmstand the very next day, ideally when the lights are off or shortly before. Performing a tank reset shortly before planting Summer seedlings will also help ensure a successful transplant and growing experience.
*Transportation can be stressful for seedlings so don’t worry if you get 1-2 that look wilted upon arrival every now and again. Seedlings are extremely resilient and typically perk up after a few days in the farmstand! If your seedlings look weak or unhealthy, follow the above instructions, then leave them indoors overnight; finally, move them outside to acclimate in full shade the following day before transplanting. You can trim off smaller side leaves that look yellow or wilted to focus energy towards new growth.
You can find post travel care recommendations on the clamshell your seedlings arrive in, on their seedling page.
How to Grow in Extremely Hot Weather
Note: You can also escape the heat by moving your Farmstand inside to a well insulated area!
What You Will Notice
Hot temperatures can cause your plants to:
• Wilt during the day
• Drink up lots more water
• Bolt (when leafy greens go to flower before reaching harvest size)
It's normal for plants to wilt during the day, even when there's enough water in the reservoir. Plants wilt because the rate at which they lose water is greater than the rate at which they absorb water. Your plants will recover overnight as the temperature cools. You can mitigate wilting by increasing the timer's watering cycle to run continuously during the hottest parts of the day. This also creates a cooling effect that lowers the temperature of the plants' roots, further relieving them from the heat.
In very hot weather, you should check your water reservoir and top if off at least twice a week to make sure it doesn't run dry (be sure to use cool water!). This will also help keep the reservoir temperatures cooler because of the addition of cold water. The heat causes your plants to use water more quickly than usual, especially as the plants get closer to harvest size. Being more attentive to your water reservoir will help prevent losing any plants to dehydration.
Bolting in hot weather is a sign that the plant is stressed and thinks it's dying. As a result, it goes to flower and seed before reaching ideal harvest size, which can negatively affect the flavor and texture. If you notice a plant is starting to bolt, remove it immediately from the Farmstand so it can still be used before its flavor and texture change.
Preventing the Effects of Hot Weather
Growing produce in hot weather brings a few new issues to look out for but they can be reduced by keeping the temperature of your water cool and providing artificial shade for your Farmstand.
When to Harvest
Harvest plants in the morning or evening. This will allow the most time for plants to recover and regain their structure after hours of intense heat. Making a plan to harvest certain plants will ensure you are able to harvest them at the best possible time!
Best Varieties to Grow in Extreme Heat
We offer our seedlings varieties on a seasonal basis to showcase what grows best in a given season. However, some plants handle the heat better than others! Here are some of the best varieties to grow in hot weather:
• Herbs: Basil, Cilantro, Chives, Oregano, Thyme
• Leafy Greens: Arugula, Organic Greens Mix, Kale
• Lettuce: Baby Lettuce Mix, Leaf Lettuces
• Vegetables: Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Cucumber, Squash, and Zucchini
Additional Notes
It will take about a week for your seedlings to really get growing - you'll see much faster growth in weeks two, three, and four. If you want to know when to expect different varieties to be harvest-ready, check out our seedling pages.
As you get ready to harvest, make sure to reorder more seedlings from our shop!