Hardening off tomato seedlings

[cjp1953]

I'm in day 4 of hardening off my tomato seedlings.They have been outdoors for up to 4 hours in a shady spot facing the south.Temps have been 60 to 70 each day.Today it's raining and 58 degrees and going to a high of 62.I have then just inside my garage next to the door just out of the rain facing south.As this is my first time doing this,will the cooler temps have any effect on the seedlings for a 4 hour stay outside?

[Labradors2]

I don't think you will have any problems and I think it's good to keep the foliage out of the rain whenever you have the choice.

Linda

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by cjp1953

I'm in day 4 of hardening off my tomato seedlings.They have been outdoors for up to 4 hours in a shady spot facing the south.Temps have been 60 to 70 each day.Today it's raining and 58 degrees and going to a high of 62.I have then just inside my garage next to the door just out of the rain facing south.As this is my first time doing this,will the cooler temps have any effect on the seedlings for a 4 hour stay outside?

As Linda said,not a problem.

What gets to be a problem is when some push it a bit and start the hardening off process before the temps allow for it, so they end up,most of them,taking the seedlings back inside which reverses what had been accomplished already re hardening off.

I used to have my trays of seedlings on a flat wheelbarrow waiting to go out, but if it rained at night,not expected, and it was colder than expected, I'd find they were wilted. But when the sun and temps came up the wilting reversed and they were fine.

Carolyn

[cjp1953]

Thank you Carolyn,I had them out there 5 hours.The temps never did go beyond 58 degrees as it was very overcast.Tomorrow will be 10 degrees warmer and into the 80's early in the week.I plan on planting them the holiday weekend if the ground warms up.I think it's in the high 50's now.I 'm hoping for ground temps in the mid 60's before I plant.

[cjp1953]

Originally Posted by carolyn137

As Linda said,not a problem.

What gets to be a problem is when some push it a bit and start the hardening off process before the temps allow for it, so they end up,most of them,taking the seedlings back inside which reverses what had been accomplished already re hardening off.

I used to have my trays of seedlings on a flat wheelbarrow waiting to go out, but if it rained at night,not expected, and it was colder than expected, I'd find they were wilted. But when the sun and temps came up the wilting reversed and they were fine.

Carolyn

When I bring them in I put them back in the basement under my shop light.It's in the 60's there.Am I not to put them under lights after they been outside?Again this is my first year doing this.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by cjp1953

When I bring them in I put them back in the basement under my shop light.It's in the 60's there.Am I not to put them under lights after they been outside?Again this is my first year doing this.

I seen no need to put them under shoplights,since it's sunshine that the plants eventually need to be hardened off, and artificial light doesn't do that.

Just keep them happy while in the basement and restart the hardening off when conditions allow for that outside. And at 60 F they will just grow more slowly,which is good,IMO.

It won't hurt them to leave them under artificial light,so,if you want to do that,it shouldn't be a big problem.

Carolyn

[hovermother22]

Originally Posted by cjp1953

When I bring them in I put them back in the basement under my shop light.It's in the 60's there.Am I not to put them under lights after they been outside?Again this is my first year doing this.

I always start them off slowly outside, in dappled sun, and then more sun gradually, when the temps are right, and then I bring them back in and put them under the lights, until they are ready to stay outside permanently, after they have been sufficiently hardened off, towards the end of the hardening-off process, and for at least five days or so before planting, as I want them to get used to the night temps also before they are planted.

[oakley]

I ran across one of Carolyn's writings about hardening off years ago. I did not put the name and her book together at that time but the clarity stuck. Clearly written and i immediately visualized the process. (even when i push things along or set out too soon).
I hear that written voice

I always know what would work a bit better. Weather can fool us sometimes. If they are going out in the elements soon, they need to be out in those elements. Hardening off too soon does not gain much. I always have insurance plants, a few dozen to push the planting time for various reasons. Once you do your own experiments with extra seedlings you'll get a sense of what hardening off really is.

I speed planted, literally stuffed a few containers 15 min before holiday a month ago, with the truck running...hosed them, set in dappled shade, no food and came back to lovely plants. Now in sun. Now well fed. They did not get frost but did have cool nights.
Hot days. And some consistent rain. Lucky kids. Lots of extra seedlings if that failed. Not at all a container gardener but these are what happens when you start so many. Stuff some in some empty tree containers a couple years ago and so far so good. These are my 'snacks' next to where we pull up at night after work. Sun/shade shifts so i can slide them around a bit.

So what i was saying was....lol....let them feel the world they are about to be in. Only a freak storm or freak frost should interfere. Only then do they need to be pulled in for safety. Tough little guys they are. (except for full sun too soon)

Always a good idea to start more seedlings than you have room for. Fun stuff.

[cjp1953]

Originally Posted by oakley

I ran across one of Carolyn's writings about hardening off years ago. I did not put the name and her book together at that time but the clarity stuck. Clearly written and i immediately visualized the process. (even when i push things along or set out too soon).
I hear that written voice

I always know what would work a bit better. Weather can fool us sometimes. If they are going out in the elements soon, they need to be out in those elements. Hardening off too soon does not gain much. I always have insurance plants, a few dozen to push the planting time for various reasons. Once you do your own experiments with extra seedlings you'll get a sense of what hardening off really is.

I speed planted, literally stuffed a few containers 15 min before holiday a month ago, with the truck running...hosed them, set in dappled shade, no food and came back to lovely plants. Now in sun. Now well fed. They did not get frost but did have cool nights.
Hot days. And some consistent rain. Lucky kids. Lots of extra seedlings if that failed. Not at all a container gardener but these are what happens when you start so many. Stuff some in some empty tree containers a couple years ago and so far so good. These are my 'snacks' next to where we pull up at night after work. Sun/shade shifts so i can slide them around a bit.

So what i was saying was....lol....let them feel the world they are about to be in. Only a freak storm or freak frost should interfere. Only then do they need to be pulled in for safety. Tough little guys they are. (except for full sun too soon)

Always a good idea to start more seedlings than you have room for. Fun stuff.

Thank you,this week they will be out doors as it's going to get into the high 70's and low 80's.I'll keep them in the garage at night and the last two nights before planting they will be outside all night.Night time temps should be around 60 next week.Today I had them out next to the house facing south,but I covered them from the sun with a very thick clear plastic bag that provided some filtered sunlight.They came out doing fine when we got home from dinner at our daughter's.They had 4 hours of sun.Thank you to everyone,this has helped me a lot.

[oakley]

Odd that your temps are so similar to mine the next week-10days. I just put a tray out this morning in shade but bright light. They will say out as temps are good and getting higher. Night and day. I'm not moving them at all this week.
They are with a dozen Japanese maple transplants we potted this morning. All transplants and seedlings love shade for a week at least.
Do not water until almost dry. Hardening off in shade likes drying out. Your plants will
stall a bit, adjusting, and may not show growth, but they are acclimating to their new home....

[cjp1953]

Checking the 10 forecast,it looks like night time lows in the 60-65 degree region.Ground temp is 56 degrees.My garden is 11 feet by 15 feet.I could put my tarp over it untill planting day maybe next Saturday.Day time temps around 80-85 midweek.Would this be of any help for young plants warming the ground even if it cools down after I remove the tarp?Really don't know how warm the ground would get in a few days.Any thoughts?I used the tarp to kill back my hairy vetch and winter rye after I mowed it a few weeks ago.Took it off last week.