Never hurts to take the extra measure – last week we had a nor’easter rip thru New England, rain every day (1”+) plus cold nights (low of 40 with 45 degree days) caused blight on my tomato plants. I hard pruned them so I hope they’ll be fine but I’m sus.
No-Army-8697
41 ok, give sun and wait for heat
NewMolecularEntity
If it gets that cold after planting, I just leave them out as they are. I am in Iowa Zone 5b.
Sometimes low 40s happen and I just shrug.
Yeah it might slow them a bit for a few days but it gets hot again and they go back to growing good.
You can go put milk jugs over them, or walls of water, or even a sheet, but I don’t know how much difference those maybe few extra degrees makes. I just tell them they are on their own and I aways get great harvests.
SethBoss
We’ve just gone through something similar here in North Carolina. Daytime highs in the 50° range/ nights in the mid 40’s. All of my tomato plants survived. If you could get your hands on some * Floating row cover, it may give an added layer of protection. As long as it doesn’t go into the 30’s, I think you’ll be fine. Good luck!
-ixion-
I am technically on the border of 6a/5b. My plants have been outside in the same state (trays and same size pots) for a month with many nights in the 40s. Zero issues. They were hardened off, so after that point I usually don’t worry about 40s over night. If you are talking one tray though you could bring them in… I just have too many trays to bring them in and out all the time.
AdhesivenessCivil581
I’d bring them in at night. They won’t die at that temp but they might get cranky. Eggplants feint at that temp, but they are bigger drama queens than tomatoes.
TacoRaven
I didn’t check the weather a few nights ago and all my plants got left unprotected in about the same temp with buckets of rain, including tomatoes. Everything is fine, thankfully.
Advanced-Depth1816
They’re in pots. Put them inside for the night and back outside when the sun is out warming up the air.
cymshah
Yeah, tomatoes don’t like the cold, and prolonged exposure will stunt growth and also delay the first harvest. Best to bring them into a sheltered area for overnights below 50-55f
9 Comments
Never hurts to take the extra measure – last week we had a nor’easter rip thru New England, rain every day (1”+) plus cold nights (low of 40 with 45 degree days) caused blight on my tomato plants. I hard pruned them so I hope they’ll be fine but I’m sus.
41 ok, give sun and wait for heat
If it gets that cold after planting, I just leave them out as they are. I am in Iowa Zone 5b.
Sometimes low 40s happen and I just shrug.
Yeah it might slow them a bit for a few days but it gets hot again and they go back to growing good.
You can go put milk jugs over them, or walls of water, or even a sheet, but I don’t know how much difference those maybe few extra degrees makes. I just tell them they are on their own and I aways get great harvests.
We’ve just gone through something similar here in North Carolina. Daytime highs in the 50° range/ nights in the mid 40’s. All of my tomato plants survived. If you could get your hands on some * Floating row cover, it may give an added layer of protection. As long as it doesn’t go into the 30’s, I think you’ll be fine. Good luck!
I am technically on the border of 6a/5b. My plants have been outside in the same state (trays and same size pots) for a month with many nights in the 40s. Zero issues. They were hardened off, so after that point I usually don’t worry about 40s over night. If you are talking one tray though you could bring them in… I just have too many trays to bring them in and out all the time.
I’d bring them in at night. They won’t die at that temp but they might get cranky. Eggplants feint at that temp, but they are bigger drama queens than tomatoes.
I didn’t check the weather a few nights ago and all my plants got left unprotected in about the same temp with buckets of rain, including tomatoes. Everything is fine, thankfully.
They’re in pots. Put them inside for the night and back outside when the sun is out warming up the air.
Yeah, tomatoes don’t like the cold, and prolonged exposure will stunt growth and also delay the first harvest. Best to bring them into a sheltered area for overnights below 50-55f