When can I start hardening off beebalm seedlings? Can they go into the ground before the last frost date?
I have a ton trays w/ seedlings growing inside under lights - my beebalm is running out of room and I have about 30 or cells that are jam packed with growth (not gonna thin, going to let them fight it out).
Its clearly not time for the other species - but my issue with the beebalm is that I can't imagine they'll fit on their shelf another month or so before our last frost date.
-On one hand, beebalm are very happy in Massachusetts and love my garden conditions - I grew a ton of em last year. I have some new growth from last year's plantings popping up now in the garden but they're all about an inch tall with 1 maybe 2 sets of leaves - so it stands to reason that beebalm seedlings can survive in early April in Massachusetts right?
-On the other hand these guys only know a world of direct sun (lights) and 70 degree days every day.
Should I slowly start hardening them off over the next few weeks?