Wilting seedlings

[Neiller59]

Hi all, my first post here!

Well This is my first year growing fruit and veggies, and I have been keeping my tomato and pepper seedlings in my conservatory. And seeing as yesterday was such a nice day I thought I'd put them outside, when I checked on them at 7 o'clock they had all fallen over and even shriveled up a bit! Any ideas on what caused this and more importantly do you think they will recover? :S

Thanks in advance

[zazen999]

Hi

Welcome to the Vine

I take it you are in the UK; and it was cold yesterday evening, and the plants hadn't been hardened off at all? [Could you pop your location into your profile so that we know].

What caused it was probably too cold or [depending on where they were] too hot, or drying out completely. I suspect too cold.

Some do recover, some don't - depending on the amount of shock and how cold it got.

It might help if you popped a photo up of them now [or tomorrow] so we can see the extent of the damage]. In all honesty, if they didn't recover a bit today they have probably had it. Sorry.

[Neiller59]

Yea from uk, good old northen ireland!yea I thoght it might have been too cold. At least it's still quite early so I've prepared for the worst and sown a new batch, I'll give them a week and see how they go. Can't get any pictures but they are touching the soil and the leaves look a bit White on the peppers, think 1 or 2 might make it( maybe they all will I hope!) but the tomatoes gad fallen over and the leaves look all scrumpled, I think they're toast! Aw well this year will probably have it's fair share of ups and downs cos of my inexperience! Thanks for the welcome zazen and you can probaby expect lots of more questions to come :P
I cut it back and hope 1 or 2 grow back!

[smallblueplanet]

Was it windy out? Small seedlings often get windburn and the leaves go paper thin and then die off..

[Neiller59]

Nope was lovely calm blue sky day here! ( wish the summers were like this!)

[Two_Sheds]

Although it was lovely and sunny here, the temp was only 7C. In a conservatory I guess it's been 20C plus?
That's a heck of a difference, no wonder they collapsed.

[ginger ninger]

Hello and welcome Neiller59, I couldn't add anything to what has already been said, I'd have gone with it's been too cold for the little guys, it's happened to me a few times when I've been a little over enthusiastic and wanting nature to hurry along. Hope your second lot do well for you!!

[Bigmallly]

In my limited experience, is is not a tad too early to be putting toms & peppers outside. I take it they were not undercover.

[Neiller59]

Thanks for all the replys! My first fatal mistake and no doubt not my last! But at least I know there's some nice people willing to answer my questions here ;D