Hey fellow gardeners! I started my tomato seedlings back in late January, and they've since been moved to 3-inch pots. I'm located in the Pacific Northwest, Zone 9a, and according to my planting calendar, they can go into the ground around the first week of April. However, the forecast for the next 30 days shows nighttime temperatures not exceeding 50°F soon. I know that tomatoes need to be above 50°F to thrive.
I'm eager to get my tomatoes planted since our growing season is shorter here, but I don't want to stunt their growth by putting them out too early. They're healthy in their pots, and I'm okay with transplanting them to larger pots if needed. Should I wait for warmer weather, or should I go ahead and plant them outside? I could also extend their hardening off period if that's beneficial. Thanks for your input!
2 Answers
I recommend keeping them in until it's warmer. Also, check out this great resource on tomato growing: extension.psu.edu/tomatoes-from-seedlings-to-fruit. If you do decide to experiment with a few plants outside, consider using milk containers filled with water around them. They can act like a heat trap, although I haven’t tried this myself.
I'd suggest holding off for now and consider up-potting them into 5-inch pots when the time comes. You might even want to plant a couple of extra seedlings outside as a test—just be aware that they could end up stunted in the cold weather. You really don’t want to waste all the hard work you've put in!
That’s what I was thinking! I started with around 48 seeds, but now I’ve thinned it down to 24 and potted up 15. I could definitely experiment with the extras. I think I jumped the gun starting them too early this year. But hey, it's all part of the learning process! How long should I wait before I up-pot them?
That sounds like a good idea! I was considering those milk jugs too, but I’m curious about how effective they’ll be if the days don’t warm up enough to offset those cooler nights. It's frustrating since it’s getting to 50 during the day but dropping low at night! ??