out in out

slugworth · May 10, 2017

I bought some tomato plants at a roadside stand but we are having a cold snap and I want to keep them indoors.How long can I keep them indoors before I have to start the hardening process all over?
They have been exposed to sunlight but are stunted because of the cold weather.
Night-time temps are in the 40's.

dmforcier · May 10, 2017

Interesting question. I'd guess that any new vegetation might be shocked at going out for the first time, but I don't believe that the hardening of the old foliage "expires".

But think like a scientist. Try it out. Keep meticulous notes. If the plants die, they died for the cause of knowledge.

KarenO · May 10, 2017

If they have been outside before you bought them they are used to it and unless you can give them great light bringing them inside in the daytime will not benefit them. imo night temps in the 40's won't kill them if they are not in the wind. what is the daytime temp? They will get growing once it's warm and you will be ahead with tough hardened off plants.

KarenO

AlittleSalt · May 10, 2017

If you can put them out in the day and bring them at night when it's cold and windy - it would be a good thing. It can be a pain moving them so often though.

Ricky Shaw · May 10, 2017

I pull them in, got some back in right now under lights, had to do it last year and the year before. Heat or cold is manageable, cold and damp for several days running I dislike.

slugworth · May 10, 2017

I will bring them in and under lights until they are robust.
Daytime temps in the 50's and windy.

oakley · May 10, 2017

Similar climate here, NY6a. The weather will turn around after the next weekend. Then
out they should go in bright shade. Also depending on size and pot size. My 'robust'
plants, 10-12inch in Tall 4" pots have been out for a couple weeks...no room inside but
did not even bother sliding into the garage. (but i have 600-ish) in various states of
growth.
A few younger seedlings are still inside under lights. Some recently potted up are under
lights needing some stable recovery time. They will go out next week.

If yours are in small six packs i would pot up in 4inch if you have the pots and soil.
Small pots can be used year after year so it is a good investment.
Especially if you have a couple weeks before plant-out.
(one of the dollar stores has a good size 4-6inch pot, 5 for a dollar)...gives you a head
start but not sure what your have purchased....

brownrexx · May 10, 2017

Mine stay outside unless the temperature drops below 40 and then I just bring them in for the night. They never stay in longer than that and they never go back under the lights.

Forgot to mention that mine are on my front porch which is open in the front but has side walls and a roof over it so they are out of the wind and I can pull the trays back towards the house it it gets really windy.

slugworth · May 10, 2017

got a six pack of mortgage lifter,it was funny when I was putting them into a bigger container they looked like they were originally leggy and the place buried them deep in the transplant.
There was like 2 inches of stem buried.Have them in the house now.
More robust plants I bought in this episode I have outside under glass in bigger pots.

Gardeneer · May 10, 2017

Depending on where in CT you are ( by the water or inland ?) , your plant out date could be right around the corner.
I have lived in Southern Fairfield Cty for a number of years and Mothers Day was the start of plant out. I had done even earlier than that.

About Your purchased plants : I would just start hardening them off right away, no need to take them back inside to put under light.

slugworth · May 11, 2017

I can see the water from here.
Usual plant date is memorial day weekend.
I put the plants out to take advantage of the sun.
I cheated with other store bought plants and put them in my cement blocks with heater cable 2 weeks ago.
Many have blossoms now.

slugworth · May 26, 2017

I had them inside but still lost 50%.
I noticed they are RL instead of PL like ones I started from saved seed.

Gardeneer · May 26, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by slugworth

I had them inside but still lost 50%.
I noticed they are RL instead of PL like ones I started from saved seed.

Generally Mortgage lifter refers to Radiator Charley variety. ( RC ML).
They have RL.

MissS · May 26, 2017

There is more than one variety with the name of "Mortgage Lifter". There is Estler's, Radiator Charlies, Halladay's, Mullen's, Quisenberry's and more. So it is very hard to get the same variety that you had before unless you have saved seeds or know which one it was that you have grown. And yes, some of them are RL and other PL so yes they are different varieties. That is the problem of growing Mortgage Lifter, just too many like names for different plants.

May 10, 2017	#1
slugworth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: connecticut,usa Posts: 1,152	out in out I bought some tomato plants at a roadside stand but we are having a cold snap and I want to keep them indoors.How long can I keep them indoors before I have to start the hardening process all over? They have been exposed to sunlight but are stunted because of the cold weather. Night-time temps are in the 40's.

May 10, 2017	#2
dmforcier Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,825	Interesting question. I'd guess that any new vegetation might be shocked at going out for the first time, but I don't believe that the hardening of the old foliage "expires". But think like a scientist. Try it out. Keep meticulous notes. If the plants die, they died for the cause of knowledge. __________________ Stupidity got us into this mess. Why can't it get us out? - Will Rogers

May 10, 2017	#8
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	Mine stay outside unless the temperature drops below 40 and then I just bring them in for the night. They never stay in longer than that and they never go back under the lights. Forgot to mention that mine are on my front porch which is open in the front but has side walls and a roof over it so they are out of the wind and I can pull the trays back towards the house it it gets really windy. Last edited by brownrexx; May 10, 2017 at 07:23 PM.

May 10, 2017	#9
slugworth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: connecticut,usa Posts: 1,152	got a six pack of mortgage lifter,it was funny when I was putting them into a bigger container they looked like they were originally leggy and the place buried them deep in the transplant. There was like 2 inches of stem buried.Have them in the house now. More robust plants I bought in this episode I have outside under glass in bigger pots. Last edited by slugworth; May 10, 2017 at 08:55 PM.

May 10, 2017	#10
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,916	Depending on where in CT you are ( by the water or inland ?) , your plant out date could be right around the corner. I have lived in Southern Fairfield Cty for a number of years and Mothers Day was the start of plant out. I had done even earlier than that. About Your purchased plants : I would just start hardening them off right away, no need to take them back inside to put under light. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

May 10, 2017	#3
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	If they have been outside before you bought them they are used to it and unless you can give them great light bringing them inside in the daytime will not benefit them. imo night temps in the 40's won't kill them if they are not in the wind. what is the daytime temp? They will get growing once it's warm and you will be ahead with tough hardened off plants. KarenO

May 10, 2017	#4
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	If you can put them out in the day and bring them at night when it's cold and windy - it would be a good thing. It can be a pain moving them so often though.

May 10, 2017	#7
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	Similar climate here, NY6a. The weather will turn around after the next weekend. Then out they should go in bright shade. Also depending on size and pot size. My 'robust' plants, 10-12inch in Tall 4" pots have been out for a couple weeks...no room inside but did not even bother sliding into the garage. (but i have 600-ish) in various states of growth. A few younger seedlings are still inside under lights. Some recently potted up are under lights needing some stable recovery time. They will go out next week. If yours are in small six packs i would pot up in 4inch if you have the pots and soil. Small pots can be used year after year so it is a good investment. Especially if you have a couple weeks before plant-out. (one of the dollar stores has a good size 4-6inch pot, 5 for a dollar)...gives you a head start but not sure what your have purchased....

May 11, 2017	#11
slugworth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: connecticut,usa Posts: 1,152	I can see the water from here. Usual plant date is memorial day weekend. I put the plants out to take advantage of the sun. I cheated with other store bought plants and put them in my cement blocks with heater cable 2 weeks ago. Many have blossoms now.

May 26, 2017	#12
slugworth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: connecticut,usa Posts: 1,152	I had them inside but still lost 50%. I noticed they are RL instead of PL like ones I started from saved seed.

May 26, 2017	#14
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,149	There is more than one variety with the name of "Mortgage Lifter". There is Estler's, Radiator Charlies, Halladay's, Mullen's, Quisenberry's and more. So it is very hard to get the same variety that you had before unless you have saved seeds or know which one it was that you have grown. And yes, some of them are RL and other PL so yes they are different varieties. That is the problem of growing Mortgage Lifter, just too many like names for different plants. __________________ ~ Patti ~