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Tomatoe seedlings

Why have these shrivelled up like this. I did keep them in the shade. I put them outside, I've brought them in now. Anything I can do to save them ?

Posts

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I think they were too young to go outside. Did you leave them all night? Keep them warm and they may recover.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Too early for them to be outside, even if they were much further on. Even in normally mild areas of the UK, it's been too cold.
    They need warmth and light, especially light. Night time temps need to be in double figures consistently for them to be outside and thrive. I can 't grow outdoors here, but even in the house, it's only about 14 overnight in the south facing kitchen, and the greenhouse would still be too cold. I'll be waiting for another week or two before transferring mine completely, which is probably a week or two later than usual. They're around 12 to 15 inches and ready to flower. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BluebelltimeBluebelltime Posts: 196
    Yes I left it out overnight thinking there is no frost. Didn't realise even without frost they cant take it. I was going to put out my squash/gourds, shall I hold back a few more weeks ?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't grow either of those, but young plants of any kind won't appreciate cold conditions. Cold, wet and windy is even worse. Someone who does will advise better.

    Some of those tomatoes are only just forming a first set of leaves. They're a long way from being ready to be outdoors.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    We are in the warmest most sheltered parts of the SE UK my veg squash tomatoes,are just starting to go out in the days, I only put them in the green house a few weeks ago, that's a "cold" green house,which has a small tubular heater.a other 10 days they will stay out overnight
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    They need to be potted on as they fill their little pots, it seems you sowed all your seeds in one pot then put them out.

    If they were mine, I would pot each seedling up separately in 3” flower pots and keep them in the warm until they’ve made a lot of new growth.

    You may be lucky then and save them but time’s getting on, you may be better advised to go to a garden centre/nursery and buy some ready grown plants for this year.
    Put it down to experience and try again next year. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Indeed @Lyn.   :)
    Mine are sown 3 seeds to a 3 inch deep pot, then potted individually when they're small. Potted on at least once more before the greenhouse - sometimes twice depending on general growth and conditions.
    Someone here yesterday was looking to buy a couple of plants, and if GCs don't have them, the DIY stores, and similar, often still have some they're looking to unload. I've done that in the past, before I started growing from seed, and you often get them for a bargain price. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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