Starter plant initiation

Yes, it's true, even the plant kingdom has to endure initiation, especially if you live in colder climate regions. What do I mean? I'm talking of course, about slowly introducing the young plants that you've started indoors to the daily grind of variable weather that they will eventually be exposed to in the garden once they've been planted.
If you want your plants to stand the greatest chance of survival and hardiness, you'll want to expose them to longer and longer times to the outdoors. Pick the milder days to do so, and choose a spot that isn't exposed to direct sunlight for the majority of the day. A good practice is to pick days that are slightly overcast, but still mild.
After a couple of 'outings' such as this, gradually move them into direct sunlight for longer and longer periods. Do this procedure for about a week or so, until you feel the plants look healthy enough move to their new permanent home, in the garden.
With a little tender loving care at the beginning, you'll soon notice that taking this extra action produces healthier, more robust plants, and your increased bounty come mid summer will be your reward for the little bit of extra work you put in now.

Stay tuned for more hints and tricks, and remember, a healthy garden is a happy garden. In the meantime, flip through the pages over at Gurney's for some great new ideas, and be prepared for that day when the frost finally succumbs to the sun.