Planting out tomato plants 27 April 2020 at 9:22AM in Greenfingered MoneySaving 4 replies 281 views

Aidanmc

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?

Farway

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?

Aidanmc

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

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..

twopenny

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.