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Planting out tomato plants

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Aidanmc
Aidanmc Posts: 1,313 Forumite
Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
I have a few tomato plants in the house which i started from seed in early March. Plants are now 30cm high. I intend to plant out in polytunnel. Have been tempted to plant out recently with all the warm weather we're having, but also weary about a late frost in May! Night time temp for this region, north UK, showing 4-6 degrees for some nights later this week.
Is it still risky to plant out?

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  • Farway
    Farway Posts: 14,673 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Homepage Hero Name Dropper
    Do you have some means of heating / warming the poly tunnel if frost comes knocking?
    I know some have a green house within a greenhouse, even just bubble wrap or fleeces maybe. they would not require a lot of heat to keep frost at bay
    Otherwise it's just fingers crossed isn't it?
    Eight out of ten owners who expressed a preference said their cats preferred other peoples gardens
  • Aidanmc
    Aidanmc Posts: 1,313 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Farway said:
    Do you have some means of heating / warming the poly tunnel if frost comes knocking?
    I know some have a green house within a greenhouse, even just bubble wrap or fleeces maybe. they would not require a lot of heat to keep frost at bay
    Otherwise it's just fingers crossed isn't it?

    Hi, no heating at all in polytunnel. Think i will plant them out at end of this week if night time temperatures are getting around 8-10 degrees. Last year i remember delaying planting until 3rd week in May  as there were quite sharp frost earlier in the month.
  • -taff
    -taff Posts: 15,350 Forumite
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    Tomatoes can cope with a little frost, strangely enough. I used to sow mine and leave them in an unheated greenhouse from mid March on. The leaves would go a bit purple underneath but I don't remember losing any. I'm in the south west though so it depends where you are I expect. At 30cm high unless they've been really pampered, they should cope in a polytunnel..
    Non me fac calcitrare tuum culi
  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 7,571 Forumite
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    Don't know if you can get it quickly at this time but Poundland do a cheap garden fleece that has lasted me years.
    Used it for lots of things and it kept snow, bitter winds and cold from my potted geraniums.

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