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Going away for a week

Georgie EdwardsGeorgie Edwards Posts: 22
in Fruit & veg

Hi everyone

I need a little advice.  I currently have tomatoes, chillies, aubergines, butternut squash and sweet corn growing from seed. I have been putting them out in my grow house on sunny days and bringing them in at night.  My dilemma is that I am going away for seven days over Easter. I don't want to leave them in the grow house as it offers no frost protection but I'm conscious that they don't really get enough light indoors.

I was thinking of putting them outside but under a fleece, what do you think?

Thanks

Posts

  • ItalophileItalophile Posts: 1,731

    How advanced are they, Georgie? And what sort of day and night temps are you getting?

  • Busy Bee2Busy Bee2 Posts: 1,005

    And what are your watering arrangements?

  • Georgie EdwardsGeorgie Edwards Posts: 22

    Hi, they vary but on the whole are now in 3 inch pots or larger and have at least 5+ true leaves. Re watering I was going to give them a good water before I go and hope that sees them through?? You can tell I'm new to thisimage

    Thanks 

  • Busy Bee2Busy Bee2 Posts: 1,005

    Well, if you put them outside, they could get frosted.  But if you lived in a warmer micro climate like London, and had a sheltered corner, probably wouldn't.  If you put them in the growhouse, I presume you mean one of those mini-greenhouse things with shelves, then there would be some protection, but they would need ventilation, and after a week in there, zipped up, not being watered, they would be likely to be going rotten.  If you leave them indoors, the central heating or simply the raised temperature of being on a sunny windowsill might dry them out.  A week is a long time for those plants to go without water.  This is a conundrum.  Can you really not get someone to pop in and water them midweek?  If you could, I would say leave them on a windowsill.  But a week is a long time.  Outside they are less likely to dry out - chance of rain and lower temperatures.  Have you looked at the forecast for your area for the next week?  Plants which haven't been hardened off outside will suffer from extremes - bright sunshine in the day and a serious drop at night will shock them.  Low pressure - rain and a smaller range in day/night temps would be ideal, but that is not what we have forecast here.  The main danger of frost is the fact that the water in the cells of the plants freezes, but it is when it thaws again that the damage is mainly done.  Is there anywhere sheltered in your garden where they would not be exposed to early morning sun in particular?  This is a difficult decision.  I think if I had to make it, it would be based  on the forecast, but if I had to nail my colours to the mast, I might...

    Put them on the lower shelves of the growhouse, and put it in a shady place outside, and leave the cover sufficiently open to allow for some ventilation.  That way, it can't get so warm in there that an infection can start, there is enough daylight to keep them alive, but not promote rapid growth, there won't be too much evaporation of the water in the compost, there is some protection against frost.  Larger pots would dry out less quickly, so pot on where you can afford the space. 

    Consider that you are arresting them - stopping them in their tracks, for a week, at a time when they would want to be putting on rapid growth.   You are slowing down all the processes that take place, so it is about removing the conditions for growth in a gentle way. 

  • ItalophileItalophile Posts: 1,731

    Georgie, the temps are important. What are you getting day and night?

  • Georgie EdwardsGeorgie Edwards Posts: 22

    Morning, thanks Busy outs of really helpful advice and I have a much better understanding of what to try and achieve, as you say it's a tricky one. 

    Italophile, sorry I missed that question. Daytime is around 14 and sunny and evenings around 5.

    thanks 

  • ItalophileItalophile Posts: 1,731

    Mmmm. They're still at the stage where they really need the routine you've established. Is there no one you can call on for help? Not sure what sort of growhouse you have, but I'd leave them inside during the day with doors/windows/whatever open for ventilation. Closed up on a sunny day, temps can double and drying out becomes a problem. They will probably cope overnight in the growhouse providing the doors/windows/whatever are closed before the sun disappears. But you'd need someone to do that.

  • artjakartjak Posts: 4,167

    Could you take the plants to a friend or neighbour who would understand their needs?

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