[Market-farming] planting out tomatoes
Allan Balliett
aballiett at frontiernet.net
Fri May 8 08:07:03 EDT 2009
My heirloom tomatoes in 3 inch pots in the unheated hoophouse took on
a great growth spurt in the past two weeks. They've gone from 10
inches tall to probably 36 inches tall without it really dawning on
me what was going on. There are about 30 flats of them and, yes, they
are side-by-side. Yesterday, a bunch of them 'collapsed' and it
became very evident that I had to either repot them or put them out.
They are VERY tender/delicate in the stem. I leave my tunnel doors
open but to not have fans to agitate the plants. They are VERY floppy
I'm thinking of running right outside with them and planting then in
shallow trenches.
I'm on the east coast and have constant rain for about a week. Highs
around 80, lows above 45.
The question: In your experience, do you think I'd really be setting
back my tomato harvest (in volume) if I rush these plants into the
field without any sort of hardening off?
I don't think it's much, if any, colder outside at night than it is
in the house but, yes, the plants are 'weak.' I'm not sure what
hardening off means in this case.
I'd appreciate hearing your suggestions and also in hearing what you
are using to fertilize your tomatoes.
These are brandywines and arkansas travelers and cherokees.
Thanks
-Allan
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