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Is it too soon to plant tomatoes outside?

ian thenutian thenut Posts: 55
in Fruit & veg
Hi.

I planted some tomato seeds on the window sill about a month ago. 
They are looking a bit smaller than I thought they'd be. 
I don't want to risk ruining them. 

Is it too soon to plant outside?


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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    Wait till the end of the month, they should be big enough then.
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    Agreed... forecast for my area is still showing single figure night temps right up to the beginning of June.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They'd have to be a lot bigger and sturdier to plant outside anyway, even by the end of the month. In a greenhouse would be fine by then.
    Depends where you are though.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ian thenutian thenut Posts: 55
    Fairygirl said:
    They'd have to be a lot bigger and sturdier to plant outside anyway, even by the end of the month. In a greenhouse would be fine by then.
    Depends where you are though.  :)
    South East/Surrey. 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I plant mine in the polytunnel, even here, but this year I had spare plants and put those outside yesterday;  They are 3 times the height of yours and much bushier with some already flowering.  I've also checked night time temps are OK and hardened them off first.

    I think yours are too small to go out yet and you should wait till they've at least doubled in height.  If they're in seed compost, you need to feed them with dilute, liquid tomato feed to help them grow strong.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They're very tiny still - they've not got much more than the first proper leaves, so you need to grow them on a bit more or they'll just not be able to thrive. They're very weak looking, but I think the pots are a bit big for the plants too.
    I'm not sure I'd even put those in a greenhouse yet, unless the temps are consistent enough overnight - that's the most important time. 

    When you pot them on, it's always better to bury them right up to the seed leaves too, as that helps with stability and they'll create more roots. Mine aren't any bigger than that, as I had to start again in mid April, but they're much bushier because that was done when I pricked them out  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • parkgatemanparkgateman Posts: 50
    From the photo they don`t look strong enough to risk putting outside , maybe 2 weeks looking at the size of them .
  • war garden 572war garden 572 Posts: 664
    edited May 2023
    i never realize how late people in Uk plant tomatoes outside.
    but then again we had warm winter and I had WOW {walls o
     waters} out since dec 15. if  I did not have such tough work
    schedule I would have had them out my usual feb 15.  work
    come first when time and money are need to get auto repairs.

    to bad you all are in Uk since i could pawn off the 200 maple
     seedling that just germinated in my rain gutter. 
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    What does pawn off mean? 
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