When to move flats outside

tlcmd · May 10, 2012

My tomato flats were inadvertantly started very late this year (as in last week, 4 May). I usually begin them around the first of January indoors with heat pads and fluroescent lights.
I am located in Greensboro, N. C. (Growing Zone 5) Our forecast temps for the next 15 days ranging from highs in the mid-70's - 80's and lows from around 50 - 70.
My Bolseno seedlings are up about 2 - 3 inches in standard 36 cube flats and Fafard Seed Starting mix.

My question: when should I (and can I safely) move these plants outdoors? Shade or full sun? They will be protected by my Artemesia absinthium (Grande Wormwood) which nicely keeps pests at at bay.

Thanks for the help. I've never started my tomatoes this late before and always moved themoutside when they were around 6" or taller.

TightenUp · May 10, 2012

i moved mine out a couple days after germination. we had 80 degree days in april. plants loved it. just make sure to start slowly and watch for wind

TightenUp · May 10, 2012

i did about an hour(maybe longer) in sun then shade for the remainder of the day. just watch the plants for any sign of leaning over or wilting. if you see any of that bring indoors

tlcmd · May 10, 2012

Thanks. I'll set the flats outside in the late afternoon and then watch.

Dick

rsrb · May 10, 2012

How did they do outside? I might put mine out tomorrow, smile.

tlcmd · May 11, 2012

RSB,
Actually, it was below 50 last night here, so mine are going out today. Will try to keepyou posted.

TightenUp · May 11, 2012

how did the little ones take the sun/wind today?

tlcmd · May 13, 2012

They still look pretty puny.

bobberman · September 11, 2012

Always shade for a week!

tlcmd · September 11, 2012

Thanks for the reply to the thread "When to move my flats outside." I'll remember it for next year.

tlcmd

bobberman · September 11, 2012

The ideal way is to find a shadded area that may get a hour or two of morning or evening sun like the exge of the house of a tree! just watch how the sun sets and comes up and that will be the place every year!

Hotwired · November 30, 2012

Anytime you move a seedling or plant outside, remember it must be hardened off. Hardening is 10% about acclimating to temperature and 90% about building a resistance to UV light. Plants will sunburn just like people. http://imageshack.us/a/img827/6282/hardened.jpg

Moving the plants back and forth between shade and sun takes some serious commitment. One mistake and you can loose months of hard work. Here's a foolproof method for people with jobs who can't babysit them.
http://www.hotwiredgardens.com/pdf/W...off_Plants.pdf

Hotwired NY 5b

May 10, 2012	#1
tlcmd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Greensboro, N.C. Posts: 132	When to move flats outside My tomato flats were inadvertantly started very late this year (as in last week, 4 May). I usually begin them around the first of January indoors with heat pads and fluroescent lights. I am located in Greensboro, N. C. (Growing Zone 5) Our forecast temps for the next 15 days ranging from highs in the mid-70's - 80's and lows from around 50 - 70. My Bolseno seedlings are up about 2 - 3 inches in standard 36 cube flats and Fafard Seed Starting mix. My question: when should I (and can I safely) move these plants outdoors? Shade or full sun? They will be protected by my Artemesia absinthium (Grande Wormwood) which nicely keeps pests at at bay. Thanks for the help. I've never started my tomatoes this late before and always moved themoutside when they were around 6" or taller. __________________ Harmmmmmmmmmoniously, Dick "If only Longstreet had followed orders......" "Show me something more beautiful than a beautiful woman and then I'll go paint it." Alberto Vargas

May 10, 2012	#4
tlcmd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Greensboro, N.C. Posts: 132	Thanks. I'll set the flats outside in the late afternoon and then watch. Dick __________________ Harmmmmmmmmmoniously, Dick "If only Longstreet had followed orders......" "Show me something more beautiful than a beautiful woman and then I'll go paint it." Alberto Vargas

May 11, 2012	#6
tlcmd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Greensboro, N.C. Posts: 132	RSB, Actually, it was below 50 last night here, so mine are going out today. Will try to keepyou posted. __________________ Harmmmmmmmmmoniously, Dick "If only Longstreet had followed orders......" "Show me something more beautiful than a beautiful woman and then I'll go paint it." Alberto Vargas

May 13, 2012	#8
tlcmd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Greensboro, N.C. Posts: 132	sorry for the delay They still look pretty puny. __________________ Harmmmmmmmmmoniously, Dick "If only Longstreet had followed orders......" "Show me something more beautiful than a beautiful woman and then I'll go paint it." Alberto Vargas

September 11, 2012	#9
bobberman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Latrobe Pa. Posts: 142	Always shade for a week! __________________ Frank the Bobberman & Carpet Installer Inventor of the Bobber With A Brain,. Gadening, Greenhouse, Fishing, Softball, Scrabble. Single looking for a woman with a 100 acre farm!

May 10, 2012	#2
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	i moved mine out a couple days after germination. we had 80 degree days in april. plants loved it. just make sure to start slowly and watch for wind

May 10, 2012	#5
rsrb Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 16	How did they do outside? I might put mine out tomorrow, smile.

September 11, 2012	#10
tlcmd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Greensboro, N.C. Posts: 132	Thanks for the reply. Thanks for the reply to the thread "When to move my flats outside." I'll remember it for next year. tlcmd __________________ Harmmmmmmmmmoniously, Dick "If only Longstreet had followed orders......" "Show me something more beautiful than a beautiful woman and then I'll go paint it." Alberto Vargas

November 30, 2012	#12
Hotwired Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ithaca, NY - USDA 5b Posts: 241	Anytime you move a seedling or plant outside, remember it must be hardened off. Hardening is 10% about acclimating to temperature and 90% about building a resistance to UV light. Plants will sunburn just like people. http://imageshack.us/a/img827/6282/hardened.jpg Moving the plants back and forth between shade and sun takes some serious commitment. One mistake and you can loose months of hard work. Here's a foolproof method for people with jobs who can't babysit them. http://www.hotwiredgardens.com/pdf/W...off_Plants.pdf Hotwired NY 5b