Hardening-off schedule for tomato and basil

**HARDENING-OFF SCHEDULE: Tomato (Heirloom) & Basil** *Day 127 / Midday* Current Status: Seedlings are leggy. Too much indoor light, not enough wind. They're soft. If I put them straight into the Sorrel soil, the salt spray and the midday glare will scorch the foliage in three hours. **Phase 1: The Porch (Days 1-3)** - 09:00 to 11:00: Move trays to the sheltered east side of the porch. - Shade is mandatory. Use the old canvas tarp. - Return indoors by noon. **Phase 2: Exposure (Days 4-7)** - 09:00 to 14:00: Increase duration. - Move them to the edge of the porch to catch the breeze. They need to develop stronger stems to survive the island gusts. - Basil stays under the tarp longer; it's more temperamental. **Phase 3: The Transition (Days 8-10)** - Full day outside, but in the "nursery" spot (behind the windbreak wall). - Monitor for leaf curl or spotting. - Bring them in only if the temperature drops below 12°C. **Phase 4: Planting (Day 11)** - Transfer to the permanent beds. - Mix in the composted kelp. *Note: I am still NOT touching the grandmother’s tin. These are store-bought seeds; if I kill them, it’s a loss of five dollars, not a loss of lineage. Keep the tin sealed until I've mapped the soil pH of the north ridge.*