Planting out tomato plants

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?

Replies

  • FarwayFarway Forumite
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    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?
  • AidanmcAidanmc Forumite
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    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 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..
    Shampoo? No thanks, I'll have real poo...
  • twopennytwopenny 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.

    The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well

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