I reckon everyone here is going to tell me it's necessary, but is it really? I'm newer to many aspects of gardening, but not to plants (as I've been a master herbalist for 20 years) so this term and method is new to me.

I never hardened off a plant in my life prior to this and they have always done fine. I never knew my mother to do so , or my aunt, etc. I was surprised to learn that some say you should even harden off plants bought at nurseries and garden centers. I've certainly never done that either and, once again, they've been fine (and this would include some more recent flower purchases). They're always kept outside in the places so I don't see the need.

This is my 5th day of trying to harden off a bunch of plants (this first round includes several herbals which I grew for seed) over about a two week period, but the current English weather is making this especially difficult to accomplish. The other day I had to rush outside because some surprise strong coastal winds picked up soon after I'd gotten the young plants out there. The other day it was a heavy rain which wasn't in the forecast which had me coming to the rescue.

Lugging the trays and pots is also a struggle since I suffer from 'mystery pain' issues.

I've come to realize that while I adore plants, I don't care for gardening much - am finding it time-consuming, frustrating, monotonous, body-wrecking and rather expensive. I am also not a sun/day person, but a moon/night one so I tend to do much of the work at night. I also think I got carried away with the number of plants I have because of the lockdown. My husband and son are not interested in gardening so it's just me. I like having some potted flowers and herbs about, some houseplants and whatever the natural surroundings inherently supply with the home territory but I think that's my limit.

Still, I feel 'committed' to seeing these 'plant kids' through and there's a lot of them. Once they're all outside, I am thinking it will be much easier on me - just some watering, feeding and pruning - and the occasional carrying in of some of the more delicate plants to the inside porch whenever heavy winds or rains come. I sure hope so.

Welcome Starmoth.( I'm trying to imagine how it feels right now on the southeast coast of England as the temperature here climbs toward 100 degrees...)
Strictly speaking, "hardening off" is the process of gradually acclimating a plant grown indoors to outside conditions to reduce transition shock. This is usually done with seedlings started in a warm environment such as a greenhouse before they are set outside in lower temperatures in the spring.

That said, there are other reasons why you might need to acclimate or protect a new planting. Yesterday I finally potted three little zinnias that had been left behind in a 6-pack. They had been in the shade, so I put a little shade dome on the pot to keep them from wilting in the heat (probably not necessary, but it was an easy precaution). I might leave that on for a couple of days to reduce heat stress, but normally I don't harden off nursery plants. I do protect baby plants if it is frosty, or shade them if I think the sun is too intense while they are establishing their root systems.

I can't imagine that you need to harden off at this time of year. Some additional information would help: What are you planting, how big are they, and where were they grown? Are you going to plant in pots or in the ground? Are your nights still dipping down close to freezing? In mild weather, sometimes just setting new plants in a protected spot in dappled shade in the garden for a few days is adequate acclimation.

It sounds like you might have jumped into the deep end of gardening prematurely (pardon the mixed metaphor) and that can be more frustrating than fun. I hope you can find a comfortable level of commitment and it should definitely NOT involve hurting your body and stressing you out. This I can tell you: I felt wonderful the first time I blended a tasty and effective tea entirely from herbs I'd grown in my garden!

I'm terrible at doing this. I usually just shove them outside as soon as possible and hope for the best. Hate carrying things in and out and out and in. YUK! However, I do lose plants when I don't so you takes your chances.