What Time of Day to Plant?

EBCIII · April 18, 2015

I am curious what time of day is the best time to plant Tomato Plants? Mine will be here some time next week. I also want to know if putting them under a Pole barn for a few days will harden them off OK? Thanks in advance, Beale.

oppelousas1234 · April 18, 2015

Here in East Texas, I do put mine under some kind of partial shade cover for a couple of days. Then, I plant them in the evening and water them. I use Rabbit droppings in the hole when I plant them. Have a great weekend.

efisakov · April 18, 2015

I plant my at evening (5-6 PM), and if the prediction of the weather for the next couple of days is overcast.

AZGardener · April 18, 2015

I have planted in both early mornings and cloudy afternoons. Both have given me great results... As long as the full sun isn't a hot sun, it should be fine.

beefsteak · April 18, 2015

I plant when I have the opportunity, time of day never made a difference.

Worth1 · April 18, 2015

Why do they need to be hardened off?
Are you getting plants that have been inside all of this time?

And plant when you have time even if they flop over they will soon get over it.

I might get transplant shock 1 out of a hundred plants.
It is something I dont worry about.

Worth

b54red · April 18, 2015

Unless it is rainy or very cloudy I always try to set them in the ground just before sundown. I try not to water them until I see them starting to wilt to encourage root growth. I only allow this lack of water when the plants are young. Once tomatoes start blooming too little water can cause blossom drop.

Bill

Gardeneer · April 18, 2015

IMO, you cannot take the plants out from under the light and plant them out cold turkey.
They need to adjust to then new environment gradually : it is called HARDENING OFF.
Once you have done that, it does not matter what time of the day you put them in the ground.

Hardening off can mean different things in different climates. In South Texas it might be the Sun ; In our cool PNW it is introducing to cool night temps more than the Sun.

ONE MORE THING: Smaller seedlings tend to adjust quicker than overgrown ones.

Gardeneer

efisakov · April 18, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

IMO, you cannot take the plants out from under the light and plant them out cold turkey.
They need to adjust to then new environment gradually : it is called HARDENING OFF.
Once you have done that, it does not matter what time of the day you put them in the ground.

Hardening off can mean different things in different climates. In South Texas it might be the Sun ; In our cool PNW it is introducing to cool night temps more than the Sun.

ONE MORE THING: Smaller seedlings tend to adjust quicker than overgrown ones.

Gardeneer

I grow my seedlings under the light on the second floor. After day of work I would not be bringing 50 seedlings down and outside and then up. Aaa... no, my seedlings do not get hardened. I can keep temps around 60 at night, but no sun exposure. That is why I plant them so the next couple of day has to be overcast.
I would love to harden them, but... to much fot me.

EBCIII · April 18, 2015

These are Plants I ordered Coming to me. I was just wondering. Not seedlings I started. I just wanted to make sure. I have no Idea where they have been? I am guessing they will travel by truck. So for the Time period they are inside the truck they will be "inside". Does that count "Worth" "Kinda caustic there man?"

The longer I stay on here it seems my questions tend to bring out some strange replies. I apologize for my ignorance, Beale.

Worth1 · April 18, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by EBCIII

These are Plants I ordered Coming to me. I was just wondering. Not seedlings I started. I just wanted to make sure. I have no Idea where they have been? I am guessing they will travel by truck. So for the Time period they are inside the truck they will be "inside". Does that count "Worth" "Kinda caustic there man?"

The longer I stay on here it seems my questions tend to bring out some strange replies. I apologize for my ignorance, Beale.

I will try to reply to this as polite and concise as I can.

Many of your posts such as this one asking about whether or not you should harden plants off that you purchased lack enough information to give a good answer.
So to give a good answer I asked why you thought you needed to harden them off.
Anyone sending/selling plants (and you need to know this) will sell plants that are hardened off to sunlight.
They are grown in a green house or started under lights and then hardened off.
As for cold I dont nor have I ever had to harden off for cold.
That is not what hardening off is about.
It is for getting the plant used to UV light so they dont burn up.

I try to help you by keeping my replies short and concise so you dont get confused.
Sometimes I have to get more information to answer you.
If you think that is being caustic then so be it.

I am also well aware that you have migraines and other problems as you stated on the other thread.
This can be used as an excuse for irritable behavior for only a little bit with me.
After that it no longer becomes and excuse, it becomes a reason that is inexcusable.

I have tried my darnedest to help you out since the day you joined but this will be the last time I ever reply directly to on any questions you have on anything.
That way you wont get confused and think I am being caustic.

Worth

EBCIII · April 18, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

I will try to reply to this as polite and concise as I can.

Many of your posts such as this one asking about whether or not you should harden plants off that you purchased lack enough information to give a good answer.
So to give a good answer I asked why you thought you needed to harden them off.
Anyone sending/selling plants (and you need to know this) will sell plants that are hardened off to sunlight.
They are grown in a green house or started under lights and then hardened off.
As for cold I dont nor have I ever had to harden off for cold.
That is not what hardening off is about.
It is for getting the plant used to UV light so they dont burn up.

I try to help you by keeping my replies short and concise so you dont get confused.
Sometimes I have to get more information to answer you.
If you think that is being caustic then so be it.

I am also well aware that you have migraines and other problems as you stated on the other thread.
This can be used as an excuse for irritable behavior for only a little bit with me.
After that it no longer becomes and excuse, it becomes a reason that is inexcusable.

I have tried my darnedest to help you out since the day you joined but this will be the last time I ever reply directly to on any questions you have on anything.
That way you wont get confused and think I am being caustic.

Worth

Well I will try my best to include more information in the future. I have been talking about these plants I ordered from Burbee for a while now Worth. To be Honest I really did not think I had to go back over that information.

I am sorry that you will no longer answer any questions at all that I ask. To be honest that in of itself makes me wonder?

I have been now told that I am no longer allowed to see my Father by my siblings. I will be as Honest as I can with you. My mind does not work right? I do not know what is wrong with it? Not just Depression. Other things that cause me to say and do things that hurt people. Now I have hurt you. For that I truly am sorry.
I do not know what is wrong wit my mind? I say what pops into my mind and spout off the top of my head? It really worries me a bunch. This is why I live alone with my Dog and Outside Cat.

My mood and rhyme and reason can swing from side to side and I have no clue why? My Head feels like it is going to explode 24/7, No Clue.

I am just trying my best here to explain myself to you. If you want not to talk to me that is your choice. I can not change that in one bit. Nor can I change Me, Beale.

PA_Julia · April 18, 2015

I plant early morning for approx half of my total plant count then early evening on the same day if possible for the remainder.

Works very well.

rhines81 · April 18, 2015

I do not plant out when the sun is baking hot. Not that my plants wouldn't mind it, but I hate the heat. So, I try to get all of my planting done early in the morning.
As long as the nights are above 50F you should be fine. If you have been growing under grow lights, then it is always good to at least give a few days out in the sun (in their containers) for them to adjust (bringing them back in at night). If they look really healthy right before you plant them, don't water them until you think they need it maybe a day or two later. If they are a bit wilty, then either try to perk them up before planting or plant them anyhow and give a little water and some diluted fertilizer.

DonnaMarieNJ · April 18, 2015

I try to plant on a cloudy day. It is sometimes hard, tho, to wait for that perfect cloudy day.

April 18, 2015	#1
EBCIII Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: South East Va Zone 7A Posts: 306	What Time of Day to Plant? I am curious what time of day is the best time to plant Tomato Plants? Mine will be here some time next week. I also want to know if putting them under a Pole barn for a few days will harden them off OK? Thanks in advance, Beale.

April 18, 2015	#3
efisakov Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NJ, zone 7 Posts: 3,162	I plant my at evening (5-6 PM), and if the prediction of the weather for the next couple of days is overcast. __________________ Ella God comes along and says, "I think I'm going to create THE tomato!”

April 18, 2015	#4
AZGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Zone 9b Phoenix,AZ Posts: 390	I have planted in both early mornings and cloudy afternoons. Both have given me great results... As long as the full sun isn't a hot sun, it should be fine. __________________ Kelly from Phx, AZ Toes and Tomatoes on FB

April 18, 2015	#10
EBCIII Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: South East Va Zone 7A Posts: 306	These are Plants I ordered Coming to me. I was just wondering. Not seedlings I started. I just wanted to make sure. I have no Idea where they have been? I am guessing they will travel by truck. So for the Time period they are inside the truck they will be "inside". Does that count "Worth" "Kinda caustic there man?" The longer I stay on here it seems my questions tend to bring out some strange replies. I apologize for my ignorance, Beale. Last edited by EBCIII; April 18, 2015 at 03:56 PM. Reason: spelling

April 18, 2015	#13
PA_Julia Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Princeton, Ky Zone 7A Posts: 2,208	I plant early morning for approx half of my total plant count then early evening on the same day if possible for the remainder. Works very well. __________________ Personal Best- 4.46 LB Big Zac 2013

April 18, 2015	#2
oppelousas1234 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: East Texas Posts: 4	Here in East Texas, I do put mine under some kind of partial shade cover for a couple of days. Then, I plant them in the evening and water them. I use Rabbit droppings in the hole when I plant them. Have a great weekend.

April 18, 2015	#5
beefsteak Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NW PA zone 5 Posts: 121	I plant when I have the opportunity, time of day never made a difference.

April 18, 2015	#6
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Why do they need to be hardened off? Are you getting plants that have been inside all of this time? And plant when you have time even if they flop over they will soon get over it. I might get transplant shock 1 out of a hundred plants. It is something I dont worry about. Worth

April 18, 2015	#7
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Unless it is rainy or very cloudy I always try to set them in the ground just before sundown. I try not to water them until I see them starting to wilt to encourage root growth. I only allow this lack of water when the plants are young. Once tomatoes start blooming too little water can cause blossom drop. Bill

April 18, 2015	#8
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,916	IMO, you cannot take the plants out from under the light and plant them out cold turkey. They need to adjust to then new environment gradually : it is called HARDENING OFF. Once you have done that, it does not matter what time of the day you put them in the ground. Hardening off can mean different things in different climates. In South Texas it might be the Sun ; In our cool PNW it is introducing to cool night temps more than the Sun. ONE MORE THING: Smaller seedlings tend to adjust quicker than overgrown ones. Gardeneer

April 18, 2015	#14
rhines81 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Zone 5A, Poconos Posts: 959	I do not plant out when the sun is baking hot. Not that my plants wouldn't mind it, but I hate the heat. So, I try to get all of my planting done early in the morning. As long as the nights are above 50F you should be fine. If you have been growing under grow lights, then it is always good to at least give a few days out in the sun (in their containers) for them to adjust (bringing them back in at night). If they look really healthy right before you plant them, don't water them until you think they need it maybe a day or two later. If they are a bit wilty, then either try to perk them up before planting or plant them anyhow and give a little water and some diluted fertilizer.

April 18, 2015	#15
DonnaMarieNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northeast New Jersey Posts: 731	I try to plant on a cloudy day. It is sometimes hard, tho, to wait for that perfect cloudy day. __________________ DonnaMarieNJ I pay the mortgage, but my cats own the house!