When can tomatos go outside?

[ClayGarden]

I've had my 6 tom plants inside for now, but i've just potted 3 up in their own 12" pots. I hadn't realised they were one plant when you see them in pictures . The thing is though because i dont have a green house, when will they be safe outside? Do i need to protect them somehow?

[hawthorns]

frost will kill them. so be very careful. way to early to be outside.

[peanut]

Hi Claygarden,

No, they need to be kept inside/undercover Toms are tender and the slightest frost will upset them a lot probably kill them. I wont be putting mine outside until mid May to be on the safe side when all risk of frost has gone and the night time temps are much much warmer.

Have you got a table or something that you could put by a window for the next few weeks? Taking them outside if it's warm during the day and back in at night? They'll need to be hardened off before moving outside or the shock'll get 'em!!

Good luck!

[ClayGarden]

Ok thanks. I wont pot the other two up yet either then. I'll start hardening them off, and bring them in each night. Mid May you reckon? So since they'll be well hardened off by then, they will be ok outside? How high will they grow by then though? Wont they need supports by then?

[ClayGarden]

Actually could i keep them in my shed overnight?

[SarzWix]

ClayGarden, it's more likely to be late May up here before we're free from frost - we're 2-3 weeks later up here than Peanut is in Cambridgeshire! So keep an eye on the forecast every day, toms will be unhappy if the temp falls below 5°c.

[ClayGarden]

5c hey? My sidebar reckons its that now
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/4042/tempfg3.jpg

and i've got them outside. . I'm not doing too good at this am i.

[Wren]

Mine are outside in the daytime under the fleece ( just incase it snows again while i am at work...grrr), and i bring them inside at dusk at the moment. I am thinking that this will give them a good start in both terms of extra daylight, plus the additional benefit of being able to leave them out as soon as the chance of frost is past.

Wren

[phil the shed]

this is mine at 7pm tonight

[ClayGarden]

Mmmm, i think i'm going to get myself a fleece then for during the day. Even though i notice your a couple hundred miles south Wren.

[punydan]

I put my toms in a gently heated greenhouse the other day according to my min max thermometer the temp didnt get below ten degs and yet some of the plants went all floppy and whilted and may as well be dead so be carefull.

[davefromthechipie]

First and last frost dates for towns and cities in the UK and USA
Good site to see last ( take with a pinch of salt) frost

[ClayGarden]

First and last frost dates for towns and cities in the UK and USA
Good site to see last ( take with a pinch of salt) frost

Hey thanks i was just reading about tomatos outside and thanks to the cookie it said "They should transplanted outside one or two weeks after your last frost date which is early May in your area".

[Wren]

Mmmm, i think i'm going to get myself a fleece then for during the day. Even though i notice your a couple hundred miles south Wren.

A couple o hundred miles south from you agreed, but that didn't stop 3 inches o snow falling in my garden just last Sunday.
I were at work in the morn an looked out in horror when i remembered i had my tomato seedlings on the garden bench along with the onions, summer cabbage, leeks an carrot seedlings because it were bright an sunny when i left first thing so i put them out

Thank goodness my OH had the sense to throw a fleece over the bench, bring in the tomatoes, and cover the potato pots with the bubble wrap or the whole lot would have been killed or flattened by the snow.

The fleece is staying put in the daytime too now just incase, an the tomato's come inside o an eve.

The good thing about fleece is that it lets in all the light, rain can get in, but it keeps the plants protected from the bitter winds an frost. I got mine real cheap from a discount shop an have used the same bit over my sprouting broccoli to keep off the butterflys in the autumn, washed it off quick in plain water after covering the plants all winter, an now i am using the same bit again thrown over my garden bench to harden off my seedlings.

Excellent value for money!

Wren

[smallblueplanet]

I put my toms in a gently heated greenhouse the other day according to my min max thermometer the temp didnt get below ten degs and yet some of the plants went all floppy and whilted and may as well be dead so be carefull.

They struggle to cope with going from cold to bright sunshine/hot, they can't transpire fast enough. Keep them covered them with fleece/out the direct sun to let them recover.