What is the earliest time to plant on Long Island NY?

Elliot · May 13, 2014

is it too early to put out my tomato plants. The nurseries are selling out because of the warm days but what if the temps drop to 50 at night?

Guarimn · May 13, 2014

I heard plants doing fine when it goes down well below that. I had my plants out and 45° weather and I did not worry about them at all.

luigiwu · May 13, 2014

I planted out already just this past weekend but I also don't have a lot of experience - lol! I've heard if you have at least 10 nights of above 50 temperature you're okay?

Guarimn, when did you plant out?

**carolyn137** · May 13, 2014

Most of LI is zone 7. I'm in upstate NY in zone 5, Last average frost for my zone 5 is May 15th and I never planted out until two weeks after that, and your zone 7 means that the last average frost for you is about the last week of April. Which means that mid May plant out should be OK.

But notice the word AVERAGE. There are those years when the average thises and thatses go out the window. And well I remember a terrible late May snowstorm one year

Just check a good weather site, I prefer Weather Underground, to see what the weather ahead is like.

No sense planting out when the soil is still on the cool side b'c the plants will just sit there and sulk.

It also depends on how big your plants are right now as well, but temps down to 50F are not going to hurt the plants.

Carolyn

lexusnexus · May 13, 2014

This year has been anything but average. I agree with Carolyn, you should be safe.

Dan

gssgarden · May 13, 2014

Now. I have family there who have put them in and they are doing fine!

Greg

Anthony_Toronto · May 13, 2014

In the prior two years I did my final pot-up about 3 weeks before the last frost date in my area (generally around May 24). Thought I would experiment by throwing the extra seedlings into the garden. Didn't have May frost last year or the year before, so all seedlings survived and got plenty of sun, fresh air, and water.

Size of transplanted and garden seedlings at beginning of May: 6 inches.

Size of garden seedlings 3 or 4 weeks later: Maybe 7 inches (that's probably being generous...probably closer to 6.5, or even 6).

Size of transplanted seedlings kept indoors: 2 feet tall

Weather wasn't even that bad out...but soil was cool. Seems like an unnecessary risk that won't have any benefit until you are in the middle of a sunny may heatwave that have already warmed the soil. I could put all of mine in the garden now and they would do fine, but not as fine as they will do inside in pots with plenty of sun and warm toes.

Guarimn · May 14, 2014

I put my plants out back in April when we were having weather in the mid forties at night.
The plants lost their lower leaves from the sun and are recovering.

I believe that was due to the plants being used to cfl lighting and not having enough time to adjust to the sun light. (I only gave them one day of dappled sunlight before I planted them out the next day). The plants seem alright. healthy. Some of them better than others. They are greening up and are growing.

luigiwu, the plants are mostly heirlooms. None of them are known to be exceptionally cold hardy as far as I know. Nieves Azorean Red, Cornue des Andes, Coustralee, Dad's Orenge Sunset, Green Zebra, Black Zebra, Azoychka, Clint Eastwood's Rowdy Red, Cherokee Purple, Brandy Boy F1, and Momotaro, F1.

bughunter99 · May 14, 2014

Looking at your ten day forecast, I would plant MOST of them now, PROVIDED the ground temperature has warmed up. I would keep a couple on reserve for another week, and only plant as many as your could cover up if you got a freak cold spell. Your temps are looking good though.

Stacy

May 13, 2014	#1
Elliot Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hicksville, New York Posts: 503	What is the earliest time to plant on Long Island NY? is it too early to put out my tomato plants. The nurseries are selling out because of the warm days but what if the temps drop to 50 at night?

May 13, 2014	#2
Guarimn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 23	I heard plants doing fine when it goes down well below that. I had my plants out and 45° weather and I did not worry about them at all. Last edited by Guarimn; May 13, 2014 at 01:35 AM.

May 13, 2014	#4
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Most of LI is zone 7. I'm in upstate NY in zone 5, Last average frost for my zone 5 is May 15th and I never planted out until two weeks after that, and your zone 7 means that the last average frost for you is about the last week of April. Which means that mid May plant out should be OK. But notice the word AVERAGE. There are those years when the average thises and thatses go out the window. And well I remember a terrible late May snowstorm one year Just check a good weather site, I prefer Weather Underground, to see what the weather ahead is like. No sense planting out when the soil is still on the cool side b'c the plants will just sit there and sulk. It also depends on how big your plants are right now as well, but temps down to 50F are not going to hurt the plants. Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

May 13, 2014	#5
lexusnexus Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: MD Suburbs of DC, Zone 7a Posts: 500	This year has been anything but average. I agree with Carolyn, you should be safe. Dan __________________ Dan

May 13, 2014	#3
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	I planted out already just this past weekend but I also don't have a lot of experience - lol! I've heard if you have at least 10 nights of above 50 temperature you're okay? Guarimn, when did you plant out?

May 13, 2014	#6
gssgarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,827	Now. I have family there who have put them in and they are doing fine! Greg

May 13, 2014	#7
Anthony_Toronto Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 413	In the prior two years I did my final pot-up about 3 weeks before the last frost date in my area (generally around May 24). Thought I would experiment by throwing the extra seedlings into the garden. Didn't have May frost last year or the year before, so all seedlings survived and got plenty of sun, fresh air, and water. Size of transplanted and garden seedlings at beginning of May: 6 inches. Size of garden seedlings 3 or 4 weeks later: Maybe 7 inches (that's probably being generous...probably closer to 6.5, or even 6). Size of transplanted seedlings kept indoors: 2 feet tall Weather wasn't even that bad out...but soil was cool. Seems like an unnecessary risk that won't have any benefit until you are in the middle of a sunny may heatwave that have already warmed the soil. I could put all of mine in the garden now and they would do fine, but not as fine as they will do inside in pots with plenty of sun and warm toes.

May 14, 2014	#8
Guarimn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 23	I put my plants out back in April when we were having weather in the mid forties at night. The plants lost their lower leaves from the sun and are recovering. I believe that was due to the plants being used to cfl lighting and not having enough time to adjust to the sun light. (I only gave them one day of dappled sunlight before I planted them out the next day). The plants seem alright. healthy. Some of them better than others. They are greening up and are growing. luigiwu, the plants are mostly heirlooms. None of them are known to be exceptionally cold hardy as far as I know. Nieves Azorean Red, Cornue des Andes, Coustralee, Dad's Orenge Sunset, Green Zebra, Black Zebra, Azoychka, Clint Eastwood's Rowdy Red, Cherokee Purple, Brandy Boy F1, and Momotaro, F1.

May 14, 2014	#9
bughunter99 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: zone 5 Posts: 821	Looking at your ten day forecast, I would plant MOST of them now, PROVIDED the ground temperature has warmed up. I would keep a couple on reserve for another week, and only plant as many as your could cover up if you got a freak cold spell. Your temps are looking good though. Stacy