I have built a garden bed for some Roma and heirloom tomatoes and basil, but can't seem to find when exactly to start gardening them off on Google. I know these guys are very small, but should I pot them in a bigger pot while I harden them off before putting them in the bed?
by OverWeightDod0
12 Comments
I think the pot size is okay for a good while yet. I let mine fill up with roots before considering a resize and these little guys should be far from that.
I start to harden my plants off 2 weeks before I plan to put them in the ground. Short intervals at first until they’re out all day and in at night.
You need to determine when your average last frost date is. When you’re getting close to that date start checking the extended forecast to decide when to plant. Start hardening off at least one week before planting day, but more time is better. It’s good to plant on a cloudy day if possible but not necessary if you’ve given the plants time to adjust to the outdoors.
I stick mine outside maybe when they’re 3 weeks old. As long it’s warm enough out. I stick them in the shade for a few days then shade and a few hours of sun then just leave them out in the yard all day then bring them in at night. If the temperature is good I leave them outside. Where I live I put them in the ground very end of May, early June. By then they are strong, beautiful looking plants.
I honestly don’t really harden my plants, mostly. I just plant. Especially tomatoes, as so much of them I bury, I don’t really think it’s worth it. That said, I don’t plant till they’re ~6-8″ or more tall. And bury all but the top 2-3″.
you got plenty of time those should be way bigger before having to worry about it
Not for a couple of weeks. They are crowded and small competing for nutrients in same position so if you can bear it. Snip off the smallest weakest one now. You want them up to 25 cm with three layers of leaves and then harden off.
I would recommend you divide them into their own cup now. I’m around Toronto and have been putting mine outside on warmish days for a month now. Won’t plant them for about a month still.
I always heard after true leaves and the weather is not too cold. They look like tomatoes. Separate each plant and put it in its on plastic cup them when you plant it lay it down in a trench up to the top leaves and it’ll have a superb root system.
Tomatoes like dirt around 70 and when it gets really hot they won’t produce much. Don’t plant out too soon or they will just sit there and get spindly.
I know I’m nuts but I have the hardest time “thinning” my seedlings. It’s like plant murder.but you can’t grow them all.
Mine have been outside the last 3+ weeks, minus the weekend we got snow for 2 days.
Those guys have got to go another 2 maybe 3 weeks inside to be large enough and strong enough to go outside.