[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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