Hardening Off

[Wobblyshot1]

I started the process off hardening off my tomato plants and will be shooting for an early May transplant to garden. In the photo there are 100 young plants of which I'll keep 30 or so and give the rest to friends. I forgot to mention there are peppers too and BTW the tomatoes are all indeterminate open pollinated varieties.

 

[Omega]

Nice, how old are they? Mine are very skinny and leggy at the moment, not looking good. Had to get some from Home Depot the other day as a safety net so I can have my salsa this year

 

[Wobblyshot1]

They were started on 3/30 so just at four weeks old. I grow mine under florescent lights adjusted to be just above the plants as they grow. Also use a heat mat.

 

[Omega]

They were started on 3/30 so just at four weeks old. I grow mine under florescent lights adjusted to be just above the plants as they grow. Also use a heat mat.

Yea, same setup here. My dome may be too high, they always get leggy and don't bush out very much, though I usually never up-pot them I am this season due to the smaller starter cells I am using.

 

[WTM]

lol my hardening off consists of putting them on my covered back deck and letting them sit in the sun:

the first night i left them out its was 30 something and frost. it hit one plant but not bad. i used to to all the let them out for an afternoon, in and out, in and out, lol. didnt seem to make a difference. no grow lights but i have a kitchen nook and covered back porch facing south in full sun.

transplanted in cups up to first true leaves after taking above puc. 30 days old.

 

[brassmagnet]

Good looking start for those!

 

[DaveB]

I have found transplanting to larger container or into the ground up to about 1 inch from the first set of leaves a very effective way to get some healthy & productive plants.

I have grow lights which definitely work but no heat pad. Seen some for sale may begin using them.