Did I kill my plants last night?

FILMNET · May 24, 2010

I took most of my plants out Saturday it was 70 nights 55, Last nigh it was 55 deg with no wind, put i water them at 5pm. Did i kill them, other tomato plants around my home have this also

Sherry_AK · May 24, 2010

Looks like sunburn to me. Were they properly hardened off?

FILMNET · May 24, 2010

yes. they got a ton of sun by a south widow for 35 days, and were outside for 3 days. we had sun for 3 days now, but only 63 , we are had the ocean here, cold wind. I looked at them this morning, and they were ok but a lot of water on leafs.

dustdevil · May 24, 2010

They look to be healthy plants, so they should bounce back.

FILMNET · May 25, 2010

I hope so Sunscald, should i cut leaves off ? or leave it ?

dustdevil · May 25, 2010

The tomato plants naturally deal with bad/damaged leaves in that they will dry up and fall off. If there are any diseased leaves, it is always better to remove them.

FILMNET · May 25, 2010

Thanks for the info, i have this on maybe 20 plants still in 3in pots I am giving this tom friends. I have 20 inside which are OK.

WVTomatoMan · May 25, 2010

Suscald is a condition which affects tomato fruit. Sunburn and windburn are conditions which affect leaves. 3 days seems like a very short time frame to harden off tomato plants. It usually takes me a week to 10 days. Getting sun in a south facing window is not the same as the cruel harshness of the outdoors even if you have a fan turned on them. If you water plants in direct sun you can "burn" the leaves. As someone else already mentioned the plants will handle the damaged leaves.

Good luck.

Randy

p.s. No you didn't kill them.

FILMNET · May 25, 2010

Thanks the sun is nasty today. maybe 90 dg, I have all plants out of the sun today.

FILMNET · May 26, 2010

The first afternoon with the very strong sun coming here from the west really was nasty, all around the homes her the gardeners have some kills plants. Everyone had plants which got to much sun for 5 hours. We have the hot deg now for 3 days, but no growing after this.

**Dukerdawg** · May 26, 2010

I have the same situation here so I appreciate the advice given. I harden off by keeping the plants in the GH with the door/window open and watering overhead like rain to 'toughen' the plants up before outside planting. The problem this year was planting in direct 'hot' sun...80+ degrees. I know they should be planted on an overcast day but the timing for that and my schedule didn't coincide.

Tomato plants are pretty tough and I would worry about an early onset of a disease by sunburn is not that big of problem in the scheme of things.

Duane

WVTomatoMan · May 27, 2010

Now we're getting the hot weather. Thanks for sending it our way guys. I really appreciate that.

It was 90 yesterday and is 91 now (probably won't be the high for the day). I have hardened off seedings in 3" pots. They were out in full sun all day yesterday and will be the same today. Yesterday evening they looked fine. I watered them well (drenched them might be a better term) and told them to suck it up and handle it or they would get a free trip to the compost bin. I guess I'm the tough love type.

Good luck.

Randy

p.s. Plants not fully hardened off would get a free pass in this weather and spend the bulk of their time in the shade. Hey, I might be tough on 'em, but I'm not unreasonable.

May 24, 2010	#1
FILMNET Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Charleston,South Carolina, USA Posts: 1,803	Did I kill my plants last night? I took most of my plants out Saturday it was 70 nights 55, Last nigh it was 55 deg with no wind, put i water them at 5pm. Did i kill them, other tomato plants around my home have this also

May 26, 2010	#11
Dukerdawg Growing for Market Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westland, Michigan Posts: 861	I have the same situation here so I appreciate the advice given. I harden off by keeping the plants in the GH with the door/window open and watering overhead like rain to 'toughen' the plants up before outside planting. The problem this year was planting in direct 'hot' sun...80+ degrees. I know they should be planted on an overcast day but the timing for that and my schedule didn't coincide. Tomato plants are pretty tough and I would worry about an early onset of a disease by sunburn is not that big of problem in the scheme of things. Duane __________________ May I aspire to live my life so that I may be the man my dog thinks I am.

May 24, 2010	#2
Sherry_AK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alaska Zone 3/4 Posts: 1,857	Looks like sunburn to me. Were they properly hardened off?

May 24, 2010	#4
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	They look to be healthy plants, so they should bounce back.

May 25, 2010	#5
FILMNET Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Charleston,South Carolina, USA Posts: 1,803	I hope so Sunscald, should i cut leaves off ? or leave it ?

May 25, 2010	#8
WVTomatoMan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: West Virginia - Zone 6 Posts: 594	Suscald is a condition which affects tomato fruit. Sunburn and windburn are conditions which affect leaves. 3 days seems like a very short time frame to harden off tomato plants. It usually takes me a week to 10 days. Getting sun in a south facing window is not the same as the cruel harshness of the outdoors even if you have a fan turned on them. If you water plants in direct sun you can "burn" the leaves. As someone else already mentioned the plants will handle the damaged leaves. Good luck. Randy p.s. No you didn't kill them.

May 27, 2010	#12
WVTomatoMan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: West Virginia - Zone 6 Posts: 594	Now we're getting the hot weather. Thanks for sending it our way guys. I really appreciate that. It was 90 yesterday and is 91 now (probably won't be the high for the day). I have hardened off seedings in 3" pots. They were out in full sun all day yesterday and will be the same today. Yesterday evening they looked fine. I watered them well (drenched them might be a better term) and told them to suck it up and handle it or they would get a free trip to the compost bin. I guess I'm the tough love type. Good luck. Randy p.s. Plants not fully hardened off would get a free pass in this weather and spend the bulk of their time in the shade. Hey, I might be tough on 'em, but I'm not unreasonable.