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Tomatoes - in or out
Ka6r9en
Posts: 3
in Fruit & veg
I grew some tomatoes from seed inside in February and then moved them to the unseated greenhouse about 3 weeks ago. They aren't growing much and are only about 2-4" high.
should I bring them back in the house where it is warmer overnight?
how high should they be or what should the soil temperature be before planting them out? They'll be in the greenhouse and the soil temp is averaging 14 c at the moment.
thanks
0
Posts
I have a few in the unheated greenhouse which are not growing as well as the ones I have on the annexe windowsill. They are going a bit purple in the leaves, and the little first leaves have gone a bit white, but they look robust. The ones on the windowsill are a bit willowy. The difference is that the greenhouse ones have hardened off (relatively - obviously they haven't been out in frost!), which may be good for them in the long run - I don't know. If I were you I would be happy with them being that high for now, cos I planted mine too early, and they are becoming an inconvenience - taking up so much space. Unless you have a cold night forecast, I would be inclined to leave them if I were you, but having said that, the forecast just predicted frost for down south, although it won't go below 6 here in Lincolnshire, so depends where you are. Probably not a good idea to plant out yet, as pots can be moved, and may need to be!
Ka6r9en where abouts in the UK (world) are you?
My tomatoes are in my unheated greenhouse here in Potters Bar Hertfordshire. It gets full sun and on a sunny day in March gets to about 35C. They've been in a fortnight and are doing well. Tomatoes need light... Lots of it... Remember direct sunlight actually inhibits plant growth hormones, this is why the side of a plant facing the sun doesn't grow whilst the side in the shade does, this allows plants to grow towards the sun - think of sunflowers moving throughout the day... It's called phototropism. Back to tomatoes... There isn't actually enough sunlight this time of year so keep tomatoes cool to slow down growth... Else they will become etiolated... Tall and weak, with flower trusses too far apart later in season... If you have no greenhouse, plant in ever increasing pots, put outside in full sun during day and bring in at night to a cool spot indoors until the weather allows them outside full time.
Tomato's need minimum 10C and maximum 20-30C, depends on where you are really, here on the North East Coast one foot in the sea it is still a bit early unless you have heat in the green house or as I have a sand box with heating.
Place young plants which should be in 4inch pots in a warm area of the green house at floor level, often ten degrees warmer than higher up, cover with fleece at night and take that off in the morning, "I know hard work" a minute or two in the greenhouse before going to work and after sooths and brings you down from the tensions of work.
In my case a sand box with warming cables and thermostat means you do not have to waste heat on the whole greenhouse and shelves above the sand box means you can lift the plants above the heat whilst starting more in the sand, I surround it with bubble wrap to keep the heat in.
Once the plants are in the 12 inch pots on the floor a minimum heat frost guard keeps them happy, heating is costly and wasteful so use fleece or bubble wrap to contain the heat that builds up during the day. Ventilation is also very important.
Frank.
An old trick... Put a black bucket filled with water in greenhouse... It acts as a thermal battery...
Palaisglide!!! Welcome - how very good to see you - you've been missed!!!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
John, yes as I like keeping buckets of water in my greenhouse to warm and put on the young plants also to gas off, we have very soft water here and I find it better to use tap water than the chemical rain that falls and fills the water butts.
Dovefromabove "Missed" I doubt it, there were those who thought my old fashioned ways well outmoded, years of learning and hard work are not swept aside by modern very expensive methods that usually do not have the success expected, double digging still has its place.
Thank you for the welcome anyway, nice to know you have friends.
Regards Frank.
Frank, I can assure you that your absence has been commented on and several people expressed the hope that it was not because of illness or anything untoward.
As for double-digging, I remember advocating this to someone last autumn - and although some felt that this was unnecessary, I was not shouted down
Some regulars are no longer here, but some of us remain, and we have lots of new regulars too, some even older than I (and I've retired since we last 'spoke') - several of whom also believe that there will always be a place for more traditional methods.
It is good to 'see' you.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hi Palaisglide, nice to 'meet' you as I don't think you've been on since I joined. I am keen to use traditional methods to grow my veg, can't afford lots of modern things!! I am also fairly new to gardening and have learned loads already on here, but always keen to learn more.
I am interested to know more about the bucket of water in the GH, not heard that one before and you may be pleased to know that I double dug my veg patch last year
Back on topic, I repotted my tomatoes last night and they are in the house still, I was going to leave them another week or so and then start putting them in the GH during the day and bring in at night if it gets too cold. I am in the North West and the GH hasn't gone below 7c at night for over a week.
On my point of view, it`s better to take tomatoes in the warm place, especially for night
This advise I was given by my friends from floristic shop Megaflowers 
because rains are not good foe them and it also could be windy)(it`s not an advertisment))))