Seedlings can be transplanted into a larger container (up-potted) or transplanted out into the garden when the roots have developed enough to start holding the soil in the pot together. Root development as a transplanting indicator Don’t rush the tomato season! You’ll actually be behind, not ahead. The out-in-the-cold tomato on the right is short and is JUST starting to blossom. The plant on the left that never went below 50☏ (10☌) already has tomatoes growing on it. That’s the difference that two weeks make! Above is a photo of the two plants on May 6th. We started this little test on April 22nd. This second plant experienced temperatures below 50☏ (10☌) on most nights and below 43☏ (6☌) on several nights. The other plant only came indoors when there was a threat of frost. One plant came indoors any time the temperature was threatening to go below 50☏ (10☌). PS: Sungold made the top 5 of the tastiest tomato types list We started with two very similar Sungold tomato seedlings (we picked the two that were the closest matching pair). We did a backyard experiment with two tomato seedlings to observe the influence of cold temperatures. Watching the effect of cold temperatures on tomato plants Temperatures below 43☏ (6☌) are too low for tomato plants to survive without being injured by the cold. Your tomato plants should not be transplanted outdoors until both daytime and nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50☏ (10☌). In the range of 43° to 50☏ (6° to 10☌), the growth of tomato plants is pretty much stopped (and possibly stunted). So, tomato plants can be injured by temperatures below 43☏ (6☌). Less than two hours of exposure are sufficient to cause damage, but more than eight hours at moderate temperatures are required for recovery.” Mineral Nutrition of Plants: Principles and Perspectives, by Emanuel Epstein and Arnold J. “Chilling the roots of the cultivated tomato damages ammonium influx, but not nitrate uptake or ammonium efflux (Bloom et al. The roots of cultivated tomato cease to grow at 10 degrees Celsius, and growth is slow to recover after rewarming (Scott and Jones 1986).” Mineral Nutrition of Plants: Principles and Perspectives, by Emanuel Epstein and Arnold J. “Chiling impedes root growth of chilling-sensitive species. Temperature below 10 degrees Celsius severely inhibit tomato growth and development at all life stages, and those below 6 degrees Celsius inflict significant injury (Geisenberg and Stewart 1986).” Mineral Nutrition of Plants: Principles and Perspectives, by Emanuel Epstein and Arnold J. “The cultivated tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum, is a classic example of a chilling-sensitive plant. Here are some helpful excerpts from the text “Mineral Nutrition of Plants” about the impact of cold temperatures on garden tomato plants: Tomato plants love the heat and detest cold temperatures. Even a light frost can mean the end for a tomato seedling. So how cold is TOO cold for tomatoes? Below-freezing temperatures are too cold for tomatoes. The general advice is that tomatoes don’t like the cold and you should wait until the cool temperatures of early spring have passed before thinking about transplanting your tomato seedlings. Transplanting Seedlings for Specific Varieties Wait until cold temperatures have passedĮvery new gardener asks about how early tomato seedlings can be transplanted into the outdoor garden.
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