Wondering if I should protect my new tomato transplants

NHGardener 5/21/2011, 8:26 pm

Might as well throw this out to the whole group. I transplanted my tomato plants today because it was sunny and hot outside for the first time in weeks and I couldn't stand it, I had to do it. They're about 4" - 8" tall. Now this evening it's turned chilly and breezy. It's supposed to get down to 44 tonight, then only up to 54 tomorrow, but then after that it's supposed to be highs in the 70s.

So do I need to run out there with a flashlight and put large coffee cans over my tomato plants tonight?

BackyardBirdGardner 5/21/2011, 11:00 pm

That doesn't sound like any chance of frost to me. Therefore, I would let them go. 44F ain't all that bad. 36F would be a different story.

**camprn** 5/22/2011, 6:29 am

BackyardBirdGardner wrote:That doesn't sound like any chance of frost to me. Therefore, I would let them go. 44F ain't all that bad. 36F would be a different story.

+1

quiltbea 5/22/2011, 6:45 am

Constant sunshine for new seedlings is just as bad as freezing temps.
Try to shade them for part of the day if its very bright out, at least for a couple of days. If you see them going limp, water and place cheesecloth over them for the next couple of days.

I, too, am going to tansplant some of mine today. I've had them hardening off for the last 3 days up to 6 hrs a day in between downpours so I'm taking my chances. Today, tho, its only the 2 going in the A-frame and the ones in the pots so I can move them into the house if needed or into the shade if the sun is too bright for a few days.

Good Luck NHGardener. I know that itchy feeling of needing to see them planted.

NHGardener 5/22/2011, 8:12 am

Thank you for the replies! I didn't cover them last night and this morning they're a little droopy (it's a constant drizzle out there tho) but they don't look too bad.

quiltbea, I didn't know constant sun wasn't good for the new transplants. Thank goodness that's not a problem this spring so far. Laughing

quiltbea 5/22/2011, 11:17 am

NHGardener.....
I need to clarify my remark.
The sun can be brutal for them only if you haven't taken the time to harden them off for the full two weeks.

I tend to rush mine in only one week so I always protect them the first 2 or 3 days from the direct sunshine.

I thought that since you haven't had such great weather, like me, that you may have rushed their hardening off process as well.

I'm glad yours are doing OK.

NHGardener 5/22/2011, 1:36 pm

Yes, quiltbea, I confess, I did rush the hardening off process. Now how did you know that? Smile

I hope they're doing okay out there. It feels like winter to me. Low 50s at the end of May just has me thinking these seasons are all mixed up. I'm hoping for a long hot stretch to make up for this...

NHGardener 5/22/2011, 3:37 pm

quiltbea, wouldn't you know it, today's gardening column in the newspaper talks about the importance of hardening off. Smile

BackyardBirdGardner 5/22/2011, 4:09 pm

NHGardener wrote:quiltbea, wouldn't you know it, today's gardening column in the newspaper talks about the importance of hardening off.

Ironic.

I saw a neighbor waxing his car today. Guess what? It clouded up. And, I bet we get rain.

Funny how that works.

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