When will my tomato seedlings be ready to put in my garden?

I'm running out of room trying to find windows with the right sunlight. And I'm too cheap to go buy a grow light.


Are these ready for the garden yet? ( photo / image / picture from poodledoodlemom's Garden )

 

How cold is it at night time for your area? any frost in the fore cast? if so, them wait to put them out. BUT those are not too big for the containers. They can get a lot bigger than that and still be fine. they may get root bound in the pot but that isn't anything to worry over. I plant mine as deep as I can and leave a few leaves and part of the stem above the soil line. The stem will make roots all the way down after you plant it.

 

It isn't the size of the seedling that is as important as the daytime/nighttime temperatures, and the soil temperature.
If nighttime temps are in the high 50's or better, that's fine.
If daytime temps are in the 60's or better, that's fine.
If you can stick your thumb into the soil all the way, and the tip of your thumb isn't cool, that's fine.
I have been planting tomato starts this week (28 so far, and counting) and I am north of you about 100 miles.
Short story, go ahead and plant, but harden off your plants first. Put them outside out of the wind and in sunlight for about two-three hours, then bring them back in. Next day lengthen the outside time to five to six hours with a couple of hours of wind exposure, and on the third day, put them out for all day, exposed to whatever wind there is. I usually harden off for a week, but you are running out of time as well as space!
Be prepared to cover your seedlings if the temps take a dive. It's unlikely, but in Texas, one never knows!

 

Thanks for the info!!!! It's not supposed to drop below 50 the rest of this week. I'm hoping it won't anymore!!!!!

I repotted these in the pic a while ago. Before I remembered to plant them deeper for the roots but the ones I did today I did like you said, Carolyn. I have a few sweet peppers and some rosemary (not sure the rosemarys are going to make it - they look real weak). I seriously have no where else to put them in my house to get good sun. I have plants in my bedroom windows - right by our heads! Guess ya gotta do what ya gotta do!! Ha ha! I also planted seeds on Sun in my teeny little garden. I'm hoping at least a handful make it. Y'all are awesome. Thanks for answering ALL of my questions!

 

PDM, put your plants outside if it is that warm... they will be okay. Those temperatures are what I keep my greenhouse. Do you have a porch or sheltered area you can leave them. You may also want to put a shade cloth over them for the first few days. A sheet would do. just keep them from getting full sun for the next few days. Keep them watered, too. The outside air, especially if it is breezy, will suck the moisture out of them fast. Rosemary is pretty hardy so I wouldn't be hesitant to plant it in a container and put it outside, but I wouldn't put it directly into the garden or ground soil until it is larger. Maybe it looks weak because it need more sun. Do you have a picture of it? My seedlings are tiny yet, but a really dark green. they are only showing their cotyledons as of yet and they are out in the greenhouse...vegetating in full sun.

 

I do have a covered porch. I put my outside plants on the railing where they get sun for part of the day (facing southeast). I added a pic. Lol! Much easier to see it than explain it! All of my other seedlings seem to be doing well and they get the same amount of sun. Maybe they should look like they do and I'm just a worry wart? I also posted a pic of the weather forecast for the week - not a whole lot of sun! I know you can get sunburn when it's cloudy (from personal experience!) so how does it work for plants? I know they need actual sun but how much "sun" do they get when it's cloudy? Is that a really stupid question? Sorry for the sideways pics...again!


Rosemary ( photo / image / picture from poodledoodlemom's Garden )






More rosemary ( photo / image / picture from poodledoodlemom's Garden )






Weather for the week ( photo / image / picture from poodledoodlemom's Garden )






Porch ( photo / image / picture from poodledoodlemom's Garden )

 

that looks like a great sheltered place to start them at. If they were mine I would set them on the bench and if it gets sunny throw a sheet over it and protect the plants. Your cloudy day is probably a perfect time to put them out and you can leave them there day and night. Your forecast is warmer than my greenhouse on some days. the rosemary looks fine. It is a very slow grower to start with. Mine isn't even as big as that. keep on! You are doing fine.

 

Awesome! Thank you. I really appreciate everyone's help all the time.

 

I just checked the thermometer on my greenhouse...it is 56f. I am pretty sure your plants won't come to any harm by putting them out on your porch. Honestly, let the tomatoes get a bit larger, like 8-10" tall, before you put them in the garden.

 

I already put them out.

 

Here are my babies. I can NOT wait to finally plant these! I had them in the sun for about 3-4 hours yesterday. I'm sticking them out there right now again. Last night it got down below 50 degrees. Do I need to wait until it doesn't get that low anymore? This morning it was 46. Thanks!




My babies are growing up! ( photo / image / picture from poodledoodlemom's Garden )

 

Okay so I've had my babies out in the sun (in the garden area) for most of the day for the past 3 days. Can I plant them yet? The temps are supposed to get down below 50. Do I still need to wait until it no longer gets that low?




( photo / image / picture from poodledoodlemom's Garden )

 

I don't think it is too cold, but they look a little on the small side. Very vulnerable to the ground insects or just the elements ( a hard rain could ruin them at that stage). Do you have to put them out yet? can they stay on your porch for a little while?

 

They can stay on the porch. I just am inpatient. Lol! But I want them to be safe so I'll wait. Thanks!!!

 

How nice to be almost ready to transplant. I just started my seeds last week.