Seedling damage

recruiterg · April 9, 2009

I have been gradually easing my seedlings into the sun. Yesterday was a 50 degree day, sunny, and breezy. After a day in the sun, my seedlings looked like they had some die back on some of the leafs. Question, did I leave them in the sun too long? Should I try to protect from the wind more? What happened? Help...

I assume they will come back. Thoughts?

IMAGE_061.jpg

velikipop · April 9, 2009

Looks like a bit of sunscald and cold from the wind has damaged the leaves. The plant will survive, but it has been setback for a bit. Tomatoes are amazingly tough plants.

Alex

Quote:

Originally Posted by recruiterg

I have been gradually easing my seedlings into the sun. Yesterday was a 50 degree day, sunny, and breezy. After a day in the sun, my seedlings looked like they had some die back on some of the leafs. Question, did I leave them in the sun too long? Should I try to protect from the wind more? What happened? Help...

I assume they will come back. Thoughts?

Attachment 7808

**carolyn137** · April 9, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by recruiterg

I have been gradually easing my seedlings into the sun. Yesterday was a 50 degree day, sunny, and breezy. After a day in the sun, my seedlings looked like they had some die back on some of the leafs. Question, did I leave them in the sun too long? Should I try to protect from the wind more? What happened? Help...

I assume they will come back. Thoughts?

Attachment 7808

Agree on what Alex said, but I'm not sure I understand why you're putting seedlings out now when in a zone 4 your last average frost date should be about June 1 and you probably wouldn't want to set them outside until after June 1, weather permitting.

Here in my zone 5 seeds were just sowed starting around the first week of April, for hardening off and setting outside inground about two weeks after last average frost, which is May 15th, which means for most of us planting outside the first of June or so, weather permitting.

How big are your seedlings now?

recruiterg · April 9, 2009

Most of my seedlings are small and I have been following the dense planting method. I started them late March. They are still in a flat. They also got a little damage. I just couldn't get a good photo of the smaller ones. The one in the pic is just one I started early as a test. I don't plan to plant the big one out...just testing my methods.

Gobig_or_Gohome_toms · April 9, 2009

Pat I useually give one to two hours in the morning or evening to start and yes the wind can be hard on the seedlings.

Carolyn first frost for us is anytime in May and I have planted out around the 15th for the last 3 years but I am a container grower so do not have to worry about soil temps and can move them inside if needed.

Craig

svalli · April 10, 2009

I used to get a lot of wind damage in my plants when taking them outdoors before I started to use a fan indoors. I run the fan couple of hours every day.

When living in Wisconsin I used to move plants outdoors about this time of year. I built a temporary cold frame out of two stacked pallet collars and light weight row cover on our sunny back patio. During cold nights I had string of 10x7W lights in the frame and a quilt over it. The plants grew sturdy and healty green.

dr20s · April 10, 2009

the average last frost date for minneapolis in spring averages around April 30th to May 12:

http://www.climate-charts.com/USA-St...N/MN215435.php

http://www.floridata.com/tracks/misc/FrostDates.htm

barkeater · April 11, 2009

I've had excellent success using window screens above the trays to prevent sunburn when first hardening off. I try to put them out on a calm, overcast day the first few times.

Even then, I've found ways to burn the leaves.;-)

brokenbar · April 11, 2009

I am Zone 4 and my "average" day of last frost is May 29 but we had a frost on June 9 last year that killed about half my plants.(first time a frost in June in 31 years...) Here, wind is the enemy, I set the plants out May 10th under milk jugs. I make sure the day at the end of May when I remove the jugs that there is no wind.
Wyoming is tough...2007 we had a glorious 151 days with no frost and I was finally in gardening heaven but in 2006, we got a lousy 87 days. The gardening Gods giveth and they taketh away.

April 9, 2009	#1
recruiterg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4) Posts: 945	Seedling damage I have been gradually easing my seedlings into the sun. Yesterday was a 50 degree day, sunny, and breezy. After a day in the sun, my seedlings looked like they had some die back on some of the leafs. Question, did I leave them in the sun too long? Should I try to protect from the wind more? What happened? Help... I assume they will come back. Thoughts? IMAGE_061.jpg

April 10, 2009	#6
svalli Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vaasa, Finland, latitude N 63° Posts: 838	I used to get a lot of wind damage in my plants when taking them outdoors before I started to use a fan indoors. I run the fan couple of hours every day. When living in Wisconsin I used to move plants outdoors about this time of year. I built a temporary cold frame out of two stacked pallet collars and light weight row cover on our sunny back patio. During cold nights I had string of 10x7W lights in the frame and a quilt over it. The plants grew sturdy and healty green. __________________ "I only want to live in peace, plant potatoes and dream." - Moomin-troll by Tove Jansson

April 11, 2009	#9
brokenbar Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Of The Border Posts: 1,169	I am Zone 4 and my "average" day of last frost is May 29 but we had a frost on June 9 last year that killed about half my plants.(first time a frost in June in 31 years...) Here, wind is the enemy, I set the plants out May 10th under milk jugs. I make sure the day at the end of May when I remove the jugs that there is no wind. Wyoming is tough...2007 we had a glorious 151 days with no frost and I was finally in gardening heaven but in 2006, we got a lousy 87 days. The gardening Gods giveth and they taketh away. __________________ "If I'm not getting dirty, I'm not having a good time."

April 9, 2009	#5
Gobig_or_Gohome_toms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Zone 4 Lake Minnetonka, MN Posts: 967	Pat I useually give one to two hours in the morning or evening to start and yes the wind can be hard on the seedlings. Carolyn first frost for us is anytime in May and I have planted out around the 15th for the last 3 years but I am a container grower so do not have to worry about soil temps and can move them inside if needed. Craig

April 10, 2009	#7
dr20s Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: wisconsin Posts: 8	the average last frost date for minneapolis in spring averages around April 30th to May 12: http://www.climate-charts.com/USA-St...N/MN215435.php http://www.floridata.com/tracks/misc/FrostDates.htm

April 11, 2009	#8
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	I've had excellent success using window screens above the trays to prevent sunburn when first hardening off. I try to put them out on a calm, overcast day the first few times. Even then, I've found ways to burn the leaves.;-)