Ultimately it boils down to overnight temps, Bf. They have to be read alongside daytime temps. Overnight temps in single figures - within reason, obviously - won't hurt the plants (as written above) but their development will be slowed. Ideally, you'd want overnight temps into double figures.
I think I've posted before about my experiment years ago back in Sydney. I planted out a batch in early spring with overnight temps around 8 or 9C. I planted out the rest a month later with overnight temps around 12 or 13C. The two batches started their ripening process at the same time. The early planting just meant they took longer.
Obviously you're at the mercy of your local climate but, all boiled down, it depends how long you want to wait.
Thanks Italophile - hadn't seen your experiment before...
Well, I reckon I'll shift them into the coldframe this week and then, as you say, I'll keep an eye on nighttime temps but probably with a view to final pots by mid May. Pretty rare to have cold nights down here at that stage. 2014 it was like mid summer then - but 2013 did have some late frosts. I've got some fleece to hand if necessary...
I've come to the right thread (nods in direction of Italophile). My plants, all of which are gardener's delight, spent the night in the greenhouse with newspaper laid over the top. They are all fine this morning, I think it got down to about 5C.
Its amazing how much emotion we invest in our plants isn't it. I was fretting last night, will they be ok, won't they.
Also I was assuming I'd be planting in grow bags but a good friend has suggested pots. Monty Don says in one of his videos that the grow bag manufacturers state the bags accommodate 3 plants, but in his opinion two is better. Pots look the better option in my 6x8ft GH.
So, these plants are, erm, getting pretty big. A couple have now got flower buds. They're pretty leggy but I'm not too worried about that as I'll bury them deeply once they finally go into their final pots/positions.
What do people (especially italophile!) think though about timing for moving them outside? Given they're taking over my sitting room...
Forecast for the next week isn't great (by mid-week highs down to 12C, night lows 7C) although may pick up by next weekend a bit.
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Hi Verdun. You can pot them up if you have the time, inclination and energy. The extra pot size won't be of any particular benefit at this point.
Hostafan, developed seedlings will cope outdoors at 4C. They just won't do a lot of growing. A frost would be a different matter.
Bf, I'm with Hostafan (above). They will be fine in the coldframe.
That's all that matters.
Bf, win win then.
Ultimately it boils down to overnight temps, Bf. They have to be read alongside daytime temps. Overnight temps in single figures - within reason, obviously - won't hurt the plants (as written above) but their development will be slowed. Ideally, you'd want overnight temps into double figures.
I think I've posted before about my experiment years ago back in Sydney. I planted out a batch in early spring with overnight temps around 8 or 9C. I planted out the rest a month later with overnight temps around 12 or 13C. The two batches started their ripening process at the same time. The early planting just meant they took longer.
Obviously you're at the mercy of your local climate but, all boiled down, it depends how long you want to wait.
Well, I reckon I'll shift them into the coldframe this week and then, as you say, I'll keep an eye on nighttime temps but probably with a view to final pots by mid May. Pretty rare to have cold nights down here at that stage. 2014 it was like mid summer then - but 2013 did have some late frosts. I've got some fleece to hand if necessary...
I've come to the right thread (nods in direction of Italophile). My plants, all of which are gardener's delight, spent the night in the greenhouse with newspaper laid over the top. They are all fine this morning, I think it got down to about 5C.
Its amazing how much emotion we invest in our plants isn't it. I was fretting last night, will they be ok, won't they.
Also I was assuming I'd be planting in grow bags but a good friend has suggested pots. Monty Don says in one of his videos that the grow bag manufacturers state the bags accommodate 3 plants, but in his opinion two is better. Pots look the better option in my 6x8ft GH.
So, these plants are, erm, getting pretty big. A couple have now got flower buds. They're pretty leggy but I'm not too worried about that as I'll bury them deeply once they finally go into their final pots/positions.
What do people (especially italophile!) think though about timing for moving them outside? Given they're taking over my sitting room...
Forecast for the next week isn't great (by mid-week highs down to 12C, night lows 7C) although may pick up by next weekend a bit.
I could put them in my coldframe at least?