Help! Tomatoes Withered and Died

[PLSteve]

I am relatively new to growing veg, but had some success in the past. However, I have just planted some tomato plants out into plastic growbag greenhouses. They were bought from a decent local garden centre and left inside for a few weeks before planting.

Over the last 2 days, 3 of the 6 have withered and died. We have had very nice days, but evening we have had a spot of ground frost. Could this have caused the plants to die? Did I leave them too long inside the house?

Any help much appreciated!!
Steve.

[thecarnage]

Did you harden then off?

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi and welcome to the vine.

Did you leave the plastic growhouse closed all day? If so, in warm weather the plants will have cooked.

Are they just limp and flopping or are they dried up? If just floppy, stand them in some water for a while then allow to drain (assuming they are in pots)

[SarzWix]

It could be either too hot in the sun, as Shirley says, or too cold at night (they need to be at least 5ºc, preferably 10ºc) or a combination of both. If you've had a ground frost then chances are the temperature would have dropped below 5º in your little growhouse, if they were then superheated in the day they'd have frazzled

[Alice]

Welcome to the Vine PLSteve.
Sorry, but I think your tomatoes have fried during the day and frozen at night.
You're not too late to get some more.

[PLSteve]

Thanks for the responses guys

I didn't harden them off - as they had been outside when I bought them as seedlings from the garden centre, so assumed they wouldn't need it.

Just unfortunate I think I decided to put them outside just when we get a bit of frost on the ground (out in rural Aberdeenshire).

Fingers crossed the evening temperatures rise a little (it is warmer tonight) and the other one survive.

Back to the garden centre and buy a few more seedlings and fingers crossed I've seen the last of the frost!!

Steve.

[Two_Sheds]

It's not just frost they hate, it's cold nights and cold winds.
You'd be better putting them out in June, tbh.

[SarzWix]

I'm nowhere near as far North as you Steve, and my tomatoes are in a greenhouse with a thermostatic heater still. It won't be turned off til the end of May...

[PLSteve]

Thanks for the help everyone!!

I think I was just a bit eager to get them out of the small pots they come supplied in. How long can I keep them in the house with out the roots getting too big to fit into a grow bag?

Steve.

[Alison]

I'm guessing that they're in 3"ish pots at the moment. If they're getting pot bound then simply pot them on to 5" ones and keep them cossetted for a bit to be on the safe side - if it's a nice day they can go outside for the day but don't they can quickly fry if they get direct sun through plastic / glass.

[Kayt]

I put mine out yesterday to start hardening off and they are looking very sick! Most a bit withered. It was sunny but not hot and I put them out of the wind. Any ideas on the best way to revive them? I've put them back on the windowsill at the moment as its raining and no sun as yet today.
The aubergines and peppers loved it by the way and are looking great! Not sure whether to put them out today or not as its raining and dull.

[Topcat36]

mine are outisde, but if it looks iffy i cover them up with fleece blanket , or if rain is heavy a make do cloche , and i mean very make do.