a little too much sun. Recommendations?

heirloomdaddy · March 17, 2010

I've been hardening off for the last week and change. Yesterday was a particularly warm day, followed by a warm breezy night. I thought the plants (about 5 weeks old) would like staying outside over night. They looked great in the morning. I rushed back from work around 1 to get my plants out of the sun, as it got up to 87 degrees out of nowhere. I returned to see some definite sun burn on some of the plants, but nothing that seems terrible. The plants are still standing strong but just have some bleaching/hardening/curling of a few leaves here and there.

Tomorrow will be considerably cooler, 74 degrees or so. Should I baby them tomorrow and put them in partial shade or let them take the heat? This is my first time with seedling so any advice would be great. thanks.

Matt

**nctomatoman** · March 17, 2010

They've taken their medicine - the hardening off may have been a bit extreme, but new growth should be fine. I've had seedlings that have gone through unexpectedly brutal conditions (days of wind blown rain at near freezing temps) - they looked more than half dead, then recovered. They are tough little fellows - as long as they have good drainage and the growing tip isn't damaged, they will grow out of much distress, at least from my experience.

heirloomdaddy · March 17, 2010

Good to hear. Thanks Craig.

I love this place. Newbie question gets answered by the man himself.

**nctomatoman** · March 17, 2010

Not THE man...just A man of many wonderful equally expert men and women here at Tville!

barkeater · March 17, 2010

HD,

Be careful. It's the sunlight that does the most damage. Even though it will be cooler tomorrow, the amount of sun will largely determine the amount of burn. Either get them out of the sun by 1 pm again, or, better yet, give them filtered sun in the middle of the day if you can. Window screens work well, or the east side of the house; just saying.

heirloomdaddy · March 18, 2010

Thanks Barkeater. Points taken.

NCtomatoman- agreed...but it's rad to have such access to veterans such as yourself and barkeater

b54red · March 20, 2010

I have done the same thing on numerous occasions and have found it helpful to water them well and take them out of the direct sun for a day or two while they recover. This seems to work better than leaving them out but I have done both and as long as they aren't burned too bad either will suffice.

March 17, 2010	#1
heirloomdaddy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Los Angeles Z10 Posts: 291	a little too much sun. Recommendations? I've been hardening off for the last week and change. Yesterday was a particularly warm day, followed by a warm breezy night. I thought the plants (about 5 weeks old) would like staying outside over night. They looked great in the morning. I rushed back from work around 1 to get my plants out of the sun, as it got up to 87 degrees out of nowhere. I returned to see some definite sun burn on some of the plants, but nothing that seems terrible. The plants are still standing strong but just have some bleaching/hardening/curling of a few leaves here and there. Tomorrow will be considerably cooler, 74 degrees or so. Should I baby them tomorrow and put them in partial shade or let them take the heat? This is my first time with seedling so any advice would be great. thanks. Matt

March 17, 2010	#2
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	They've taken their medicine - the hardening off may have been a bit extreme, but new growth should be fine. I've had seedlings that have gone through unexpectedly brutal conditions (days of wind blown rain at near freezing temps) - they looked more than half dead, then recovered. They are tough little fellows - as long as they have good drainage and the growing tip isn't damaged, they will grow out of much distress, at least from my experience. __________________ Craig

March 17, 2010	#4
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Not THE man...just A man of many wonderful equally expert men and women here at Tville! __________________ Craig

March 17, 2010	#5
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	HD, Be careful. It's the sunlight that does the most damage. Even though it will be cooler tomorrow, the amount of sun will largely determine the amount of burn. Either get them out of the sun by 1 pm again, or, better yet, give them filtered sun in the middle of the day if you can. Window screens work well, or the east side of the house; just saying.

March 18, 2010	#6
heirloomdaddy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Los Angeles Z10 Posts: 291	Thanks Barkeater. Points taken. NCtomatoman- agreed...but it's rad to have such access to veterans such as yourself and barkeater

March 20, 2010	#7
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I have done the same thing on numerous occasions and have found it helpful to water them well and take them out of the direct sun for a day or two while they recover. This seems to work better than leaving them out but I have done both and as long as they aren't burned too bad either will suffice.