"Leslie" wrote in message ...
This is the first year I've started seeds indoor and mostly they're doing
well. I would like to start hardening them off soon since the weather is so
nice and looks like it will stay that way. Even though I'm in zone 5, it's
been getting down to only about 40 at night and in the day it's been
averaging a high of 68-75. This week is expected to get to 80. In another
thread someone said definitely don't start hardening off in zone 5 yet, but
with these temperatures is there any reason not to? Maybe I'm just too
excited to get these little guys outside! :-)

TIA,
Leslie, zone 5 in the deserts of Eastern WA

It depends on what you are hardening. My spinach and hardy lettuce are
already planted outside for example (Zone 5.5). After this weekend,
with an expected frost, I will transplant collard and cardoon as well.
A few days of hardening, and they will be able to take light frosts
without damage. In general, cold hardy seedlings will do nicely with
temperatures of 50F, and tomatoes etc. with temperatures of 60+. My
guess is that regular (not cold hardy) lettuce will do OK as long as
the lows are at 40 or above. It is recommended that tomatoes and other
warm weather veggies never be exposed to temperatures below 50. So go
ahead and take them out, and set yourself up so you can bring them in
quickly.