Hardening off Tomatoes

[peanut]

My Toms have been in the house on window sills and today I potted them on into small pots.

Now I don't have room to keep them on window sills anymore so I thought I could put them in the unheated G/house during the day and bring them back in at night?

Does that sound ok?
I'm guessing they wouldn't like to stay in their overnight until the nightime temps are in double figures?

Then at about beginning of May start to harden off by putting them outside during the day. I have a cold frame....never used it.....should i be?

Help! getting confused...I've never been this early with my sowing so haven't had to do this before!!!!

Thanks

[zazen999]

Hi
I've had toms in my unheated garage for about 2 months now; and others in a polystyrene box with a plastic storage box upended over it for the same amount of time.

They have all been fine.

however, I have kept some indoors to keep warm.

Although they will harden off; they will also slow down.

Why not keep a few indoors if you have space, put a couple in the coldframe, and some in the greenhouse. You are then spreading your options.

[john c]

I took my toms down to the lotty as they were getting spindly, about 6ins. high and lost them overnight.

i kept some at home ..

What do i do now???

[Herbie]

Hi John

Sow some more and keep the ones that are at home in a warm place. Can you keep them on your window cills until the weather warms up, that way they will get the light they need and the warmth of being in doors. Tomatoes need abit of TLC.
Do you have a greenhouse or a cold frame?

[zazen999]

Hi John

That's brave; I always say that if it's too cold to garden without a cardi; then it's too cold for toms. i think it's the wind that gets them. I have the plastic cover over mine; but wouldn't leave them without one.

Having said that; i still haven't sown my main crop yet; will be doing it as soon as this cold snap goes. Next week or so hopefully. They'll soon catch up with the others; the ones that I have are earlies so quick croppers once they get going.

[Alice]

That's the problem with early sowings Peanut. The plants can get too big before it's warm enough to move them outside. If you want to go for the advantage of early sowing it's wise to go for belt and braces. I plant early in the hope of an early start - works most years - but plant more seeds later, just in case. That way if you loose the early ones you have a back up, and if the early ones make it, ditch the late ones. Hope you see what I mean.
Your tomatoes will probably be allright in an unheated greenhouse if the weather stays reasonable and you cover them well with fleece. But I would definitely plant a backup. Good luck.

[ClayGarden]

Can i just ask please..... i have some tomato plants, 3 got hardened a bit and are small, 3 stayed in and are rampant and tall. At what point do they REALLY need staking? Mine are getting to about 8 inches ish i reckon.

[Pieman]

moved mine out to the garage to slow them down....i have some for myself - the others are boot fair 'ing.....

plus the chilli's

[Alice]

They really need a stake when they won't stand up by themselves Claygarden.

[ClayGarden]

They really need a stake when they won't stand up by themselves Claygarden.

thanks, any guidance on when that will be height wise? just wonder what kind of length support i will need to prepare. There is no point in getting a 6inch support if its not needed till 2 foot and i need an entirely new one.

It will also help in what height to get as an interior support height.

[peanut]

Thanks all....so any ideas what minimum day and night temps Tomatoes need?

[smallblueplanet]

thanks, any guidance on when that will be height wise? just wonder what kind of length support i will need to prepare. There is no point in getting a 6inch support if its not needed till 2 foot and i need an entirely new one.

It will also help in what height to get as an interior support height.

If your toms are growing quite sturdy and compact then they might not need staking until they're planted out at maybe 18-24 inches. If they've gone a bit 'spindly' and need support use whatever is handy. Ours are in the g/h atm about 6-9 inches with nice thick stems and so don't need support yet. When you repot or plant out the toms, drop them down into the soil/compost to try to make them more stable - they will root from their stalk.

When our cordon toms get going we stake them with 8ft canes or bits of roofing battons or whatever is to hand and will be tall enough.

[dan1979]

I'm completely out of room indoors so mine are living in a plastic greenhouse at the moment.

I have a fleece that I put over at night to store some warmth.

Not sure how they will get on, if the weather reports had been accurate all would be well but it's just not happening.

[seasprout]

Weather is supposed to pick up during this coming week according to the country file bloke.

Its always a good idea to have a max/min Thermometer in your glasshouse, could frame/zip up thingy, then you can see how cold or hot it gets and you can then plan a bit better.