Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: connecticut,usa
Posts: 1,151
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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. |
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 3,825
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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.
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Stupidity got us into this mess. Why can't it get us out? - Will Rogers |
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 5,931
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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 |
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#4 |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
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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.
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro
Posts: 1,910
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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.
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: connecticut,usa
Posts: 1,151
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I will bring them in and under lights until they are robust.
Daytime temps in the 50's and windy. |
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#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: NewYork 5a
Posts: 2,303
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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.... |
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Southeastern PA
Posts: 1,420
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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. |
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#9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: connecticut,usa
Posts: 1,151
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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. |
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#10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7
Posts: 4,916
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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.
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Gardeneer Happy Gardening ! |
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#11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: connecticut,usa
Posts: 1,151
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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. |
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#12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: connecticut,usa
Posts: 1,151
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I had them inside but still lost 50%.
I noticed they are RL instead of PL like ones I started from saved seed. |
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#13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Posts: 3,148
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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.
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#14 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7
Posts: 4,916
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![]() Quote:
They have RL.
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Gardeneer Happy Gardening ! |
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