When is the Best Time to Move Plants Outside

Spring is the time when nature is waking up again. Just like the nice weather is luring us to go outside and enjoy, the same thing is happening to our plants. You might be wondering – When is the best time to move plants outside? Is it now? Is it warm enough? What part of the day is best for this action? How should I do it and not damage the plants? Don’t you worry – we’ve got answers to all of your questions.

What is the best season for moving plants outside?

Are you dreaming of having a perfect garden? If you are new to gardening you might not be aware of some basic facts about plants. You can simply follow your instinct – if you are the one who cannot stay inside for long these days, well, your plants might be feeling the same. Or, you can take a look outside and you will see that nature starts blooming in spring, so that is the best season to move plants outside.

Spring is not only the best season for taking the plants out but for planting and replanting them too. Many plants wouldn’t be able to survive the low temperatures during winter and that is why we take them inside. On the other hand, summer can be too hot for your plant to change its surroundings. Naturally, there are some species that are capable of enduring harsh winters and hot summers outside, but we are focusing on the more delicate kinds here. For those, and almost all other species the right season to be moved outside is in spring.

One more reason why spring is the best time of year to move plants out is that the room temperature is similar to outside, which again causes less stress to the plant.

Replanting and repotting

Apart from spring being the most pleasant time of year to be working in your garden or on a terrace, the soil has its best temperature for receiving new plants. That being said, you should prepare some new soil for the plants you are taking outside. Check whether your plants need to be repotted. Every pot should be at least a few centimeters larger in diameter than the previous one. Even if they do not need bigger pots than they are in already, you should change their soil since fresh one will have higher nutrient content.

Be careful not to damage the roots of the flower or vegetable while replanting or repotting it. To prepare the plant for this action you should water it generously several hours in advance (and leave it like that overnight even). That way the plant will be entirely hydrated and more resistant to the shock of changing the environment. Plus, it will be easier for you to take it out of its previous container and put it in their new bed. This is also one of the tips if you are planning a move – water your plants abundantly before taking them to your new home.

What time of the day would be ideal for these actions?

If you are willing to take our advice and move your plants outside in spring, then any time of the day would be ok. Still, it would be good to avoid the direct sunlight, so mornings and evenings are the perfect choices for your gardening activities.

In case you do not have a choice but to replant or move your plants during summer, you should follow the same rule. Avoid the hottest hours of the day and deal with your plants in the morning or evening. To provide them with some extra protection, you should make sure they have some sort of a shield from the direct sunlight. UV rays your plant will be suddenly exposed to if you move it outside during summer can cause damage to its leaves and flowers the plant may never recover from.

Some plants can be taken out earlier than others

Annual plants, just like their name suggests, last for a year. People usually buy them in spring so that they can enjoy their full beauty during hotter months of the year. You should take them out after you are certain that the last frost date is over. Of course, the actual date will depend on the climate zone you live in. Once you get your plant from a garden shop, you should replant it. The container you bought it in is just a permanent solution until you find the final one. The more space your flower has, the more it will be able to develop. Provide it with enough water and some good quality soil and it will flourish.

Mediterranean plants with hard leaves are a bit more resistant, so they can be put outside at the beginning of April. Unexpected low temperatures (if they occur) won’t do them too much harm, especially if you protect the pots with blankets or some other materials that would keep their containers a bit warmer.

Tropical plants and fruits are the least resistant to low temperatures. That is why they should be the last ones to relocate outside. For them, it is important that the temperature does not fall under 10 ° C in the coldest part of the day.

Some plants may have difficulties adjusting to new lighting conditions. That tells us that they should be taken outside when the weather is cloudy rather than on a perfect, sunny day.

What about vegetables?

When it comes to replanting and taking out vegetables, once more – the perfect timing will depend on the species. For instance, green vegetables and lettuce can be moved outside at the beginning of spring, while tomatoes, cucumbers, and similar vegetables won’t be comfortable outside before the middle of spring.

Spring 2021

The spring is the perfect time for you to learn more about gardening and start growing your own plants. People all over the world are spending their time in self-isolation, so many of them decided to stay at home and garden – maybe you can do the same.