My tomatoes under COLD-20 quarantine

bgardner 4/30/2020, 3:52 pm

My tomatoes have outgrown my grow light shelves. They want to go outside, but it's not safe for them to do so because of COLD-20. They just get taller and leggier, and a few leaves have browned in frustration. I had to take them off the shelf since their tops were invading the shelf above. They care nothing for social distancing from my lettuces. Hopefully, they will survive the limited lighting they are getting now until I can get them outside into the sunshine.

Here (hopefully) is a picture of three of my four types of tomato: San Marzano, Big Beef, and Sun Gold.

Brian

My tomatoes under COLD-20 quarantine 20200410

countrynaturals 4/30/2020, 5:11 pm

They don't look too bad. Can you up-pot them to give them a little more room while they're waiting? Can you carry them out into the sun for a little while each day or is it too cold even for that?

OhioGardener 4/30/2020, 5:22 pm

No problem, Brian! Those tomatoes will do wonderfully well once the weather settles down and they can planted in the gardens. With tomatoes you pull off all of the leaves so that there is only about 3" left at the top of the plant, and then you bury the plant down to that 3" in the soil. If they are too long & leggy, they can even be laid down in a "trench" so that only the top 3" is above ground. They will grow roots on the stem that is buried and make the plant even stronger.

Starting tomorrow the weather will be nice enough that you can set them outside in a sheltered place during the day, and take them back in the house for the night. Then they'll be hardened off enough for transplanting. We can usually safely plant them by mid-May with not danger of frost. If there is a frost threat, it doesn't take long to cover them for that night.

**Scorpio Rising** 5/1/2020, 9:29 am

I agree with OG, Brian! They might benefit from a weak fertilizer and a dose of sunshine this weekend, but start easy, the sun is way better than lights! Are they pot-bound? If so, you might want to up-pot them. When you plant them in the garden, set them DEEP!!!

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My tomatoes under COLD-20 quarantine

My tomatoes under COLD-20 quarantine

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Re: My tomatoes under COLD-20 quarantine

Re: My tomatoes under COLD-20 quarantine


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