Well maybe people are using the term wrong. The term harden off has meant the same thing longer than I been alive. The term "to lignify" like wise has meant the same thing for eons.
Waiting for a plant to "harden off" in the way Winger was talking, which by the way became personal in this thread, not me, has not really be defined by him. And....I'm still waiting to be dazzeled by his definition by the term harden off. Not an article by Ryan or the use of the term. An official document from a University extension or bonified Govt agency. ( there isn't one cause harden off means only one thing)
I'll just tell you this from someone that has lots of maples.... Lots and lots of maples. Waiting to prune any of my trees here where I live, and most of North america till the shoots "harden off" or "lignify" is waiting too long and will ruin the outline of the tree. the shoot will lose its vigor and rebudding takes too long and I can't get the ramification I desire to achieve my goals.
I say we start showing trees to compare which method works best....We can begin right here. Show me some maple trees with well ramified canopies right now. I took these in my underware on my BBQ last night.
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