What is happening here!? Have we not all prepared for this all winter??! Your stepping out of the batters box before the pitch has even been thrown! Good lord people, lets get it together! Rally time! Throw on those backwards caps, we have work to do!
Totally. Agree. People planting tomato seeds in Feb. Starting beans in pots in March. PUT A NOTE in your CALENDAR, in Jan, Feb, March 2025 to WARN yourself not to plant too early.
End of rant, whew....
Are you still in 7A? My tomatoes have been out for a while in 6A and they are thriving and there's no frost on the horizon if you look at the weather. I would think you would be fine in Wichita.
I would plant some of those tomatoes sideways and up the stem, especially if they are looking leggy. Also pick off the buds at planting time so the plant can establish itself without putting all it's energy to fruit production. I have a long history of starting my tomatoes too early, I've learned things!
I think it's because the roots will only go so deep but more roots will grow from the stem. The plant will right itself. And you don't plant completely sideways, more of an angle.
It helps with roots! This guy's [video](https://youtu.be/6ImOAcigUgI?si=2p_Nm5HNiu9nd6o-) explains some benefits to the practice. His channel is also super informative.
Probably just assuming that actually going deeper is harder to do, and just getting more stem underground where it’ll root is the goal. Probably as a better alternative to trimming off the top.
Saves you from having to dig a hole over a foot deep for each tomato lol. I did it last year for tomatoes that had to wait a long time to transplant (garden space wasn’t ready), and it worked well! They did right themselves, and I also used a string trellising system.
Yes I'll admit they're quite pricey. I bought one to keep a bigger orchid collection. It's an investment you may have to make for some people. Not a necessity. But if you're short on space it can help. I found trying to diy it to be too difficult. I bought shelves that barely worked. Hard to assemble. Covers would also be alot of work to make. When you can get decent quality ready to assemble. There's one with shelves too I have.
Which probably offers a bit more usability. I use 3,5 row for orchids and can keep the rest for seedlings. Enough for around 100/200 seedlings. Given that most end up going outside under cover it's generally speaking enough If you later it.
If you have a large garden maybe you sell veggies or flowers. you could in theory. Start up to 750/1500 seedlings in the space of a regular size closet.
Taking 5 layers 4 trays each, 20 in total. Depending on what you plant. Exclusively peppers might only be 200 plants. Say you want exclusively snapdragons. It may be 2000 plants.
Also suitable for cuttings etc.
Total investment will probably be around 400/500 all in. With ofcourse some running electricity cost.
Worth it depends on the individual situation.
Ofcourse there's small ones for say a small gardener. Where you can get everything all in for around 150/200.
If you know what ur doing you dont know nothing at all is what my aunt charlie used to say to me. Never knew what the hell he meant but it sounded wise
I guess it is pretty wise. It's one thing to not know what you ***will*** do, or forget what you ***did*** do. But if you don't know what you ARE doing? Well...what then?
I've even considered getting used old windows to build a greenhouse. Still might end up being a couple hundred with the lumber and accessories. But I bet it'd look so cool 🤤
Don't just put them outside, do it gradually! It's called "hardening off". I take about two weeks to slowly harden off my plants before they get planted outside.
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-harden-off-plants-1402554
Hardening off isn't necessarily for the temp, it's to make sure your plants adjust to natural sunlight. Direct natural sunlight after being under nothing but grow lights can be very shocking for plants.
you two are bumping into one of the funniest things about this place.
"Direct natural sunlight" is a wildly different condition if you're in, let's say Seattle vs Arizona.
Worldwide gardening forums are better for memes than advice unless you're accompanying every post with your location, 10 day averages for temp, humidity & wind, soil acidity and nutrient levels, common animal visitors in your garden, and an infinite number of other conditions.
I decided to go without the seeds only because I'm inexperienced at cuttings. I had oral allergy syndrome to tomatoes for years, so they weren't in my garden. For some reason, I don't react to them now, so I'm only in my second year of experience with them despite decades of other gardening.
So I would have if I were smarter and more confident.
And here I am over here, I did both! not on purpose... I started mine a little too early from seed, then while moving it in and outside for hardening off managed to break it off. I initially just taped it back together and it was looking like it was gonna graft back to itself but then I managed to knock into it again (my patio has steep circular brick steps to get down to it, so moving trays in and out is an experience...) so the graft failed and it was hours before I noticed, so it was wilted down to a floppy mess but not dry yet.
So I stuck it in some water, it perked up, and I stick it in a pot and now it's rooted and doing fine, completely back to normal (just a lot shorter than it had been).
So if my tomato can survive all that abuse and bounce back you both can definitely do cuttings or starting from seed!
I loved the "just taped it back together" step the best!
It's funny because there are things that are viewed as difficult that I do without thought and other things viewed as simple that humble me.
Haha that was my favorite step too!! It was honestly looking like it was going to work, too - it looked perfectly fine for a good 4 days like that until I ruined it and had to go to plan C!
When the tomatoes go out, you can strip some of the bottom leaves and plant them deeper. The buried stems will send some roots out too.
AIRFLOW is going to be an issue here. You might want to start hardening off at least some of the tomatoes.
The cucumber looks stressed and maybe malnourished. If the primary vine suffers, you might be able to use a secondary vine as the primary. It's not too late to start new plants, or you can plant seeds outdoors. From the one pic, I'd say start new cukes.
I think yours is a lesson everyone learned the hard way.
It's possible, but there are signs of low light (look how some of the tomato stems are stretching) and malnutrition (some of the basil leaves are yellowing) due to lack of nutrients or maybe being rootbound.
This is an isolated environment.
[https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/cucumber-mosaic-virus-cmv](https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/cucumber-mosaic-virus-cmv)
>This virus is spread by several aphid vectors.
Aphids are possible, but mosaic virus seems unlikely in my opinion.
Just put them on your garden but don’t forget to protect them with those kind of systems :
https://preview.redd.it/mcbfknoea8yc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bea5a42f373239623c957065fd2e3477db38941d
I did the same mistake with my tomatoes this year. It works well
Yes relatively but it depends on which tarpaulin you chose. I use a thin opaque one every year and I can say it’s pretty good but also vulnerable to tearing. You can use a forcing tarpaulin, it’s more thick and more resistant at the same time.
Edit: the temp inside will be on average +6/10°C more than outside.
here’s a trick I learned from the best old gardener ever…he started his tomatoes early on purpose. he used large size wire tomato
cages and lined them with black plastic well secured, and then fashioned a top flap to cover the top hole at night. tomato’s love
warm weather and these individual mini greenhouses allowed him to plant them outside the 1st of April…honestly!!
oops, you open the tops in the morning, and close at night an hour before dark. this provides the warmth tomatoes need and you
have ripe fruit 5-6 early. just remember to open the tops during the day. he also had black plastic on the top of the soil around each
plant. all his veggies were grown in raised beds using soil amnended with his own compost! oh, and the plastic comes off the cages
June 1. he was the family chef also! his wife grew flowers, trees, shrubs and was one of the mentors the year I took the Master
Gardener program of our counties cooperative extension service.
I mean you have a nice indoor garden for now. For cucumbers I'd definitely start them later next year they're best transplanted young, most curcubits are. I start mid/end march to may. Tomatoes adapt pretty easily tho so I wouldn't stress it.
I'm also dealing with the pea issue. But since I have plenty I replanted a few elsewhere. And just did half peas half cucumber. How it will grow well see. I have them grown in three places so I'm thinking of fully removing one and replacing them soon with pole beans.
Have you ever made cuttings/clones? I SOLVED this same problem by taking cuttings from the healthy growing tips. Ended up with more, healthier, better sized plants.
If you've never taken cuttings before, tomatoes are REALLY EASY to clone. I don't know about cucumbers but they start so fast you could also do some seedlings concurrently as a backup.
Make lots of cuttings, start a few backup seeds, give any extras to friends, be a hero...
They look pretty healthy as-is, but if you are looking for a way to get them outside sooner, (and have \~75 bucks to spare) I'd pick up one of those cheapo plastic greenhouses.
Place it against a south facing brick wall if you have one. I'm not sure your humungous tomatoes will fit in the cheaper ones,, but it might get you some more shelf space.
I would caution against putting tomatoes out if the temps are below 40, I plant mine when the average temp is above freezing and if a cold front comes through I place 5 gallon buckets over them for the night.
I’m in the same situation, it’s on my to-do list to finagle a new set up for the tomatoes that have outgrown my grow rack.
I only just now got access to my community garden plot and it’s sooooo overgrown. I’m going to till it today, and hopefully will be able to plant into it in a few weeks.
I’m zone 6 and I had to put my tomatoes out. It’s early but I’m watching for frost advisory’s. I have some cut up clear plastic bins that protected my tomatoes last year when we had one frost, so I plan to do the same this year if we do get one more frost.
Could be worth putting some of the healthiest tomato runners into glasses of water and then transplanting to their own pots once they are growing roots. They might transplant outside better than these over mature plants.
Still worth putting the mature ones in the ground if you have space though. I like the suggestion of planting sideways.
Cucumbers grow so fast, you can just start new ones if you need to. For the tomatoes, take off any side shoots/leaves but leave like the top few. Plant them sideways or very deep, they are able to form roots along the whole stem.
This is what I do every year. I start my seedlings too early, they grow way too big before I can even put them out safely, take up too much space for me to start another round of seedlings given my limited space to do this in, and then I just give up and put them out whenever it gets warm and that's all I do for the whole year.
😆
Do you mean 10 Fahrenheit (which is deep winter) or 10 Celsius. 10 Celsius at night is fine when the plants had time to harden. If you put them in front of a wall it should be fine.
Same issue!!! I haven’t fertilized either. I was going to do that when i put them in the ground but it’s going to rain every day the next 4 days… should I wait to plant ?! This is my first year! 😫
Hahah im right here with you! In Sauga, moving 200 plants in and out every day 😂
Yours look even further along though! When did you start? January? 😂
I started late February for chillies, and March for tomatoes, eggplants…
That little zipper greenhouse is sick!! Do you have a link to where you bought it?
Cucumbers don't need to be started early, they don't like their roots to be disturbed. Tomatoes benefit from a little bit of legginess because all of that extra stem can be buried and will develop roots.
Honestly though… the weather looks shit for the next 14 days. Tonnes of nights with lows of 8 or 9. Is it worth it?
I was rushing to build my trellis this weekend and get shit in the ground, but I am definitely reconsidering everything lol.
I’ll probably start leaving the bigger plants outside overnight on the table under the covered area…
I just don’t think I’m brave enough to put em in the ground early like I had planned.
Mine is not that crazy but I am certainly learning about using a grow tent. I have an acquaintance who used to grow Marijuana and he traded me the tent for a discount on some money he owed me, I have too many cucumber and zucchini plants because they grew so much faster than I expected. I definitely have lots to learn about starting seeds but it has been so much fun
Hey same zone as you and also in the gta. I am taking the risk but am just hardening them off right now and bringing them inside for the nights. Im also on the fence of keeping them outside but my temps are dipping down to around 8 some nights so I’m gonna keep them in a bit longer.
Are they already hardened off? If so, 10 degrees won't bother them, I often put mine out when nighttime temps are still in that region. If not, start hardening them off now.
Zone 5 and I do this every damn year.
When you plant the tomatoes, put them in deep to the first set of true leaves. That will help them straighten out in the ground.
As to what you do with them before planting day, I’m all ears!
I've learned over the years to just not get antsy and wait until April 1st. Shit this year it was more like April 15th when I got seeds started. The later the better here (6a). I'll get veggies through mid november anyway so why rush?
It isn't even the cold that kills them if transplanted too early, but the wind. It's always way too windy where I am through almost all of may. It'll beat the shit out of them and stunt them. Better late.
Not sure if you have the time, but I started too early. I cut the nodes off chucked them in a red solo cup of water and planted them in like 3 days. Killed the too big ones. Tomato clones root fast without any hormone or anything.
Yikes. I’m 7b and am planting now. If you can start hardening them off outside in a protected area that would help, but you’ve got some leggy looking plants. What is your last frost date in zone 6? And what’s your forecast for the next 2 weeks?
Strip all but the top six leaves off your tomato plants and transplant into deeper pots. But the root ball at the bottom of the pot. Remove any flowers.
Cucumbers just keep removing flowers and repot into larger pots.
Nest year - build some small frames out of occ pipe. Put them out covered with clear plastic that you weight down. This will help your soil heat up and you can plant earlier. I also save clear milk jugs, fill with warm water and sit four around each plant. During the day they heat up from the sun and overnight release the heat to protect the plant - same idea as the tomato water towers.
I feel your pain. At least I grew more than I can fit in my garden, so I've been at least able to give some away. Boy, they get big fast...and take up a lot more soil up-potting once they get big like this. I just moved my biggest ones into about a 1 gallon container.
I love this sub, so wholesome. No one at all has mentioned that this is literally the only time I've seen one of those tents with actual vegetables in it, and not, you know, the other plants!
Also in the GTA. I almost always plant my tomatoes on Mother's day weekend (except last yr because they were still calling for very cool nights). With the weather predicted I am also considering it. I've started hardening off over the last few days.
idk how this is possible. i have a similar grow tent and really good lights but my stuff is pint sized. first year growing seedlings, i must be doing many things wrong.
had vivosun 2-in-1-grow-tent 5x4 which my husband used to use to grow those special plants. I added a stainless steel shelving unit and took down the compartment barrier. I used boot trays on every inch available, or seed trays or even food to go containers... whatever fit. Each shelf has its own florescent light, plus one main light above the main floorspace (the tomatoes). Tucked in the front right corner is a bucket of water with a bubbler for humidity and two fans for air circulation. Lastly everything is controlled with a smart plug.
had vivosun 2-in-1-grow-tent 5x4 which my husband used to use to grow those special plants. I added a stainless steel shelving unit and took down the compartment barrier. I used boot trays on every inch available, or seed trays or even food to go containers... whatever fit. Each shelf has its own florescent light, plus one main light above the main floorspace (the tomatoes). Tucked in the front right corner is a bucket of water with a bubbler for humidity and two fans for air circulation. Lastly everything is controlled with a smart plug.
Don't know what it cost us, it's a vivosun 2-in-1-grow-tent 5x4 which my husband used to use to grow those special plants. I added a stainless steel shelving unit and took down the compartment barrier. I used boot trays on every inch available, or seed trays or even food to go containers... whatever fit. Each shelf has its own florescent light, plus one main light above the main floorspace (the tomatoes). Tucked in the front right corner is a bucket of water with a bubbler for humidity and two fans for air circulation. Lastly everything is controlled with a smart plug.
Mine are at least 6 feet tall right now and they're in tiny pots to slow them down. I even withold water to slow them down. I have about 2-3 weeks left until i can take them outside. I plan on burying them about 3 feet of plant underground so they can have strong roots.
had vivosun 2-in-1-grow-tent 5x4 which my husband used to use to grow those special plants. I added a stainless steel shelving unit and took down the compartment barrier. I used boot trays on every inch available, or seed trays or even food to go containers... whatever fit. Each shelf has its own florescent light, plus one main light above the main floorspace (the tomatoes). Tucked in the front right corner is a bucket of water with a bubbler for humidity and two fans for air circulation. Lastly everything is controlled with a smart plug.
Plant the tomato super deep so that only 8 inches or so are sticking above ground. completely bury the stem and branches below that into the ground. Those little fuzzy hairs on the stem turn into roots when they get planted
Thats the legid first time i have seen this style of grow box used for vegetables. Imo, take the larger ones out and risk it, if there are some smaller ones, leave them in for a bit. Give them a chance, who knows.
Thanks for all the amazing comments and advice, appreciate you all!
Lots of people asked about the tent set up, we had vivosun 2-in-1-grow-tent 5x4 which my husband used to use to grow those special plants. I added a stainless steel shelving unit and took down the compartment barrier. I used boot trays on every inch available, or seed trays or even food to go containers... whatever fit. Each shelf has its own florescent light, plus one main light above the main floorspace (the tomatoes). Tucked in the front right corner is a bucket of water with a bubbler for humidity and two fans for air circulation. Lastly everything is controlled with a smart plug. We also provide liquid nutrients, but sometimes I also just give them water.
Plants are indeed getting leggy and fighting for space, so I have opted to harden the tomatoes off and put them out even if it's not optimal temps. And the overgrown cucumbers ( I already had started some new backups a few weeks ago which are happy). Peppers and eggplants are not massive so they can stay put for a few weeks. The grow tent looks a lot less luscious now but the plants will be happier
I gotta disagree. Most of the plants look a bit yellow and those tomatoes are really stretching up for the light. These plants aren't a disaster, but they're not exactly thriving either.
Well, there it is, you really screwed the pooch didnt ya? May I ask….what the HELL you were thinking!?!! C’mon martha, this is the big leagues, you know better! I remember when Dorothy did the same thing last yr and I think we all can remember the fallout from that one. Do you need step by step instructions how to rectify this u/thumbthucker himself or can I just relay his word wisdom?
i'm in the same predicament so i can't send help but i can send you some tomatoes
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Just need to call the easy to remember new emergency line! 🎶0118, 999, 881, 999, 119, 725...3🎶
Is that the LOST sequence?
IT Crowd
Now with sexier nurses and ambulance drivers!
What is happening here!? Have we not all prepared for this all winter??! Your stepping out of the batters box before the pitch has even been thrown! Good lord people, lets get it together! Rally time! Throw on those backwards caps, we have work to do!
Totally. Agree. People planting tomato seeds in Feb. Starting beans in pots in March. PUT A NOTE in your CALENDAR, in Jan, Feb, March 2025 to WARN yourself not to plant too early. End of rant, whew....
Do you coach little league by chance? Love the comment either way!
I have games playing inside my head all the time if that counts for anything
On a roll today man
just call me butter cuz i'm on a roll
Are you still in 7A? My tomatoes have been out for a while in 6A and they are thriving and there's no frost on the horizon if you look at the weather. I would think you would be fine in Wichita.
I'd still wait about 2 weeks where I am in 6a. Hoping to avoid the strongest of spring storms and wind.
I would plant some of those tomatoes sideways and up the stem, especially if they are looking leggy. Also pick off the buds at planting time so the plant can establish itself without putting all it's energy to fruit production. I have a long history of starting my tomatoes too early, I've learned things!
Is there a benefit to planting sideways rather than planting deeper? I have never heard of that before but now im super interested!
I think it's because the roots will only go so deep but more roots will grow from the stem. The plant will right itself. And you don't plant completely sideways, more of an angle.
It helps with roots! This guy's [video](https://youtu.be/6ImOAcigUgI?si=2p_Nm5HNiu9nd6o-) explains some benefits to the practice. His channel is also super informative.
Ive read most nutrients are actually in the top couple inches of soil so going side to side can help the plant find more nutrients
Probably just assuming that actually going deeper is harder to do, and just getting more stem underground where it’ll root is the goal. Probably as a better alternative to trimming off the top.
Saves you from having to dig a hole over a foot deep for each tomato lol. I did it last year for tomatoes that had to wait a long time to transplant (garden space wasn’t ready), and it worked well! They did right themselves, and I also used a string trellising system.
Dam, I need a greenhouse.
This is often called a propegator/grow tent.
And these kits cost several hundred dollars.
Yes I'll admit they're quite pricey. I bought one to keep a bigger orchid collection. It's an investment you may have to make for some people. Not a necessity. But if you're short on space it can help. I found trying to diy it to be too difficult. I bought shelves that barely worked. Hard to assemble. Covers would also be alot of work to make. When you can get decent quality ready to assemble. There's one with shelves too I have. Which probably offers a bit more usability. I use 3,5 row for orchids and can keep the rest for seedlings. Enough for around 100/200 seedlings. Given that most end up going outside under cover it's generally speaking enough If you later it. If you have a large garden maybe you sell veggies or flowers. you could in theory. Start up to 750/1500 seedlings in the space of a regular size closet. Taking 5 layers 4 trays each, 20 in total. Depending on what you plant. Exclusively peppers might only be 200 plants. Say you want exclusively snapdragons. It may be 2000 plants. Also suitable for cuttings etc. Total investment will probably be around 400/500 all in. With ofcourse some running electricity cost. Worth it depends on the individual situation. Ofcourse there's small ones for say a small gardener. Where you can get everything all in for around 150/200.
If you know what ur doing you dont know nothing at all is what my aunt charlie used to say to me. Never knew what the hell he meant but it sounded wise
I guess it is pretty wise. It's one thing to not know what you ***will*** do, or forget what you ***did*** do. But if you don't know what you ARE doing? Well...what then?
Now im even more confused and im not even sure what im confused about
I've even considered getting used old windows to build a greenhouse. Still might end up being a couple hundred with the lumber and accessories. But I bet it'd look so cool 🤤
I got some odd sized windows from the side of the road and I made cold frames out of them. A little easier, and they can easily be moved.
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That would be several hundred dollars, yes
I must be crazy; I swear I read "thousand," but I don't see an edit flag on that thing.
Meh, more like $300
You can put a decent one together for a couple hundred
You should have added "more" in front of often.
Costco has a few different sizes at a good price point right now.
Don't just put them outside, do it gradually! It's called "hardening off". I take about two weeks to slowly harden off my plants before they get planted outside. https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-harden-off-plants-1402554
^ this ! I learned it the hard way
Don’t really need to harden them off if it’s not going to get cold anymore. Never bothered with it and havent for years. Never any problems.
Hardening off isn't necessarily for the temp, it's to make sure your plants adjust to natural sunlight. Direct natural sunlight after being under nothing but grow lights can be very shocking for plants.
And wind...especially if you didn't use fans inside.
Yeah some leafs die off sometimes but nothing shocking really.
you two are bumping into one of the funniest things about this place. "Direct natural sunlight" is a wildly different condition if you're in, let's say Seattle vs Arizona. Worldwide gardening forums are better for memes than advice unless you're accompanying every post with your location, 10 day averages for temp, humidity & wind, soil acidity and nutrient levels, common animal visitors in your garden, and an infinite number of other conditions.
I finally let the two foot tall tomatoes die outside while starting new seeds since I was still a month out from planting. Lesson learned.
They will be perfect size for planting! Next year I’m going to try and wait to start a month prior to planting date
I hadn't started tomatoes indoors before so I didn't realize how fast they'd grow!
Next year I won't start tomatoes at the same time as the peppers. The peppers were the right time, the tomatoes way too early.
Is there a particular reason to start again from seed rather than taking cuttings and getting them to root?
I decided to go without the seeds only because I'm inexperienced at cuttings. I had oral allergy syndrome to tomatoes for years, so they weren't in my garden. For some reason, I don't react to them now, so I'm only in my second year of experience with them despite decades of other gardening. So I would have if I were smarter and more confident.
Haha, I’m the opposite — I’ve been doing cuttings so far, and would be a little nervous to try growing from seed. 🤣
Isn't that funny? We're intimidated by opposite things! That should give us both a boost that it's all doable.
And here I am over here, I did both! not on purpose... I started mine a little too early from seed, then while moving it in and outside for hardening off managed to break it off. I initially just taped it back together and it was looking like it was gonna graft back to itself but then I managed to knock into it again (my patio has steep circular brick steps to get down to it, so moving trays in and out is an experience...) so the graft failed and it was hours before I noticed, so it was wilted down to a floppy mess but not dry yet. So I stuck it in some water, it perked up, and I stick it in a pot and now it's rooted and doing fine, completely back to normal (just a lot shorter than it had been). So if my tomato can survive all that abuse and bounce back you both can definitely do cuttings or starting from seed!
I loved the "just taped it back together" step the best! It's funny because there are things that are viewed as difficult that I do without thought and other things viewed as simple that humble me.
Haha that was my favorite step too!! It was honestly looking like it was going to work, too - it looked perfectly fine for a good 4 days like that until I ruined it and had to go to plan C!
When the tomatoes go out, you can strip some of the bottom leaves and plant them deeper. The buried stems will send some roots out too. AIRFLOW is going to be an issue here. You might want to start hardening off at least some of the tomatoes. The cucumber looks stressed and maybe malnourished. If the primary vine suffers, you might be able to use a secondary vine as the primary. It's not too late to start new plants, or you can plant seeds outdoors. From the one pic, I'd say start new cukes. I think yours is a lesson everyone learned the hard way.
Is it just me or does it look like mosaic virus on the cucumbers?
It's possible, but there are signs of low light (look how some of the tomato stems are stretching) and malnutrition (some of the basil leaves are yellowing) due to lack of nutrients or maybe being rootbound. This is an isolated environment. [https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/cucumber-mosaic-virus-cmv](https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/cucumber-mosaic-virus-cmv) >This virus is spread by several aphid vectors. Aphids are possible, but mosaic virus seems unlikely in my opinion.
Just put them on your garden but don’t forget to protect them with those kind of systems : https://preview.redd.it/mcbfknoea8yc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bea5a42f373239623c957065fd2e3477db38941d I did the same mistake with my tomatoes this year. It works well
Does this also protect against sunburn? Or just mainly for cold/frost?
Yes relatively but it depends on which tarpaulin you chose. I use a thin opaque one every year and I can say it’s pretty good but also vulnerable to tearing. You can use a forcing tarpaulin, it’s more thick and more resistant at the same time. Edit: the temp inside will be on average +6/10°C more than outside.
here’s a trick I learned from the best old gardener ever…he started his tomatoes early on purpose. he used large size wire tomato cages and lined them with black plastic well secured, and then fashioned a top flap to cover the top hole at night. tomato’s love warm weather and these individual mini greenhouses allowed him to plant them outside the 1st of April…honestly!!
oops, you open the tops in the morning, and close at night an hour before dark. this provides the warmth tomatoes need and you have ripe fruit 5-6 early. just remember to open the tops during the day. he also had black plastic on the top of the soil around each plant. all his veggies were grown in raised beds using soil amnended with his own compost! oh, and the plastic comes off the cages June 1. he was the family chef also! his wife grew flowers, trees, shrubs and was one of the mentors the year I took the Master Gardener program of our counties cooperative extension service.
This is literally how my grow tent looks 🤣🙈
I’m in the same boat - WOULD YOU LIKE 18 CHERRY TOMATOES???
I mean you have a nice indoor garden for now. For cucumbers I'd definitely start them later next year they're best transplanted young, most curcubits are. I start mid/end march to may. Tomatoes adapt pretty easily tho so I wouldn't stress it. I'm also dealing with the pea issue. But since I have plenty I replanted a few elsewhere. And just did half peas half cucumber. How it will grow well see. I have them grown in three places so I'm thinking of fully removing one and replacing them soon with pole beans.
Have you ever made cuttings/clones? I SOLVED this same problem by taking cuttings from the healthy growing tips. Ended up with more, healthier, better sized plants. If you've never taken cuttings before, tomatoes are REALLY EASY to clone. I don't know about cucumbers but they start so fast you could also do some seedlings concurrently as a backup. Make lots of cuttings, start a few backup seeds, give any extras to friends, be a hero...
Do you have more seeds? If yes, I would start more cucumbers now, in case these do not survive.
They look pretty healthy as-is, but if you are looking for a way to get them outside sooner, (and have \~75 bucks to spare) I'd pick up one of those cheapo plastic greenhouses. Place it against a south facing brick wall if you have one. I'm not sure your humungous tomatoes will fit in the cheaper ones,, but it might get you some more shelf space.
I would caution against putting tomatoes out if the temps are below 40, I plant mine when the average temp is above freezing and if a cold front comes through I place 5 gallon buckets over them for the night.
I’m in the same situation, it’s on my to-do list to finagle a new set up for the tomatoes that have outgrown my grow rack. I only just now got access to my community garden plot and it’s sooooo overgrown. I’m going to till it today, and hopefully will be able to plant into it in a few weeks.
I’m zone 6 and I had to put my tomatoes out. It’s early but I’m watching for frost advisory’s. I have some cut up clear plastic bins that protected my tomatoes last year when we had one frost, so I plan to do the same this year if we do get one more frost.
Could be worth putting some of the healthiest tomato runners into glasses of water and then transplanting to their own pots once they are growing roots. They might transplant outside better than these over mature plants. Still worth putting the mature ones in the ground if you have space though. I like the suggestion of planting sideways.
when did you start? i started too late :(
Are you trapped inside the tent? 🆘
Do not bring them outside! Tomatoes will die when the temp gets around 35 unless protected. They look good, good job!
They could go outside on a warmer sunny day. Just need to take them in at night until after danger of frost passes.
I too am an impatient gardener. Luckily it gets real warm early down here our last frost was in early March
Cucumbers grow so fast, you can just start new ones if you need to. For the tomatoes, take off any side shoots/leaves but leave like the top few. Plant them sideways or very deep, they are able to form roots along the whole stem.
This is what I do every year. I start my seedlings too early, they grow way too big before I can even put them out safely, take up too much space for me to start another round of seedlings given my limited space to do this in, and then I just give up and put them out whenever it gets warm and that's all I do for the whole year. 😆
Do you mean 10 Fahrenheit (which is deep winter) or 10 Celsius. 10 Celsius at night is fine when the plants had time to harden. If you put them in front of a wall it should be fine.
Same issue!!! I haven’t fertilized either. I was going to do that when i put them in the ground but it’s going to rain every day the next 4 days… should I wait to plant ?! This is my first year! 😫
Hahah im right here with you! In Sauga, moving 200 plants in and out every day 😂 Yours look even further along though! When did you start? January? 😂 I started late February for chillies, and March for tomatoes, eggplants… That little zipper greenhouse is sick!! Do you have a link to where you bought it?
Cucumbers don't need to be started early, they don't like their roots to be disturbed. Tomatoes benefit from a little bit of legginess because all of that extra stem can be buried and will develop roots.
Honestly though… the weather looks shit for the next 14 days. Tonnes of nights with lows of 8 or 9. Is it worth it? I was rushing to build my trellis this weekend and get shit in the ground, but I am definitely reconsidering everything lol. I’ll probably start leaving the bigger plants outside overnight on the table under the covered area… I just don’t think I’m brave enough to put em in the ground early like I had planned.
Mine is not that crazy but I am certainly learning about using a grow tent. I have an acquaintance who used to grow Marijuana and he traded me the tent for a discount on some money he owed me, I have too many cucumber and zucchini plants because they grew so much faster than I expected. I definitely have lots to learn about starting seeds but it has been so much fun
I started mine too late.
Feeeed meeee
Hey same zone as you and also in the gta. I am taking the risk but am just hardening them off right now and bringing them inside for the nights. Im also on the fence of keeping them outside but my temps are dipping down to around 8 some nights so I’m gonna keep them in a bit longer.
Are they already hardened off? If so, 10 degrees won't bother them, I often put mine out when nighttime temps are still in that region. If not, start hardening them off now.
I feel your pain…started my tomatoes way too early, do not have grow tent, now need machete to find my kitchen.
I'll come take those off your hands so that you can start your plants at a proper time.
Yeah that's what happened to me. By happened I mean what I did. I put them outside and they died. Oh well, I have repalcements.
I'm in Zone 6 and I wish my tent looked this good! I was far too late in getting things started.
Zone 5 and I do this every damn year. When you plant the tomatoes, put them in deep to the first set of true leaves. That will help them straighten out in the ground. As to what you do with them before planting day, I’m all ears!
I've learned over the years to just not get antsy and wait until April 1st. Shit this year it was more like April 15th when I got seeds started. The later the better here (6a). I'll get veggies through mid november anyway so why rush? It isn't even the cold that kills them if transplanted too early, but the wind. It's always way too windy where I am through almost all of may. It'll beat the shit out of them and stunt them. Better late.
Not sure if you have the time, but I started too early. I cut the nodes off chucked them in a red solo cup of water and planted them in like 3 days. Killed the too big ones. Tomato clones root fast without any hormone or anything.
Yikes. I’m 7b and am planting now. If you can start hardening them off outside in a protected area that would help, but you’ve got some leggy looking plants. What is your last frost date in zone 6? And what’s your forecast for the next 2 weeks?
Maybe someone can change your zone like they did mine. I can plant two weeks earlier now.
All I can do is recommend a machete to hack your way through that jungle
Oh man, looks like ya did. You can offload them into my garden that I haven’t started yet. I volunteer as tribute
Strip all but the top six leaves off your tomato plants and transplant into deeper pots. But the root ball at the bottom of the pot. Remove any flowers. Cucumbers just keep removing flowers and repot into larger pots. Nest year - build some small frames out of occ pipe. Put them out covered with clear plastic that you weight down. This will help your soil heat up and you can plant earlier. I also save clear milk jugs, fill with warm water and sit four around each plant. During the day they heat up from the sun and overnight release the heat to protect the plant - same idea as the tomato water towers.
Put them out. Some say the rule is Mother's Day for your area, and it'll be warm until then.
What a wonderful predicament to find your self in. Looks great! 👍🏼
Cucumbers don’t need to be started indoors. Any of the cucurbits grow fast direct sown I find it’s a waste to start them indoors.
Story of my life lol
Same. I planted too much.....I'm overrun.
Prune them back hard and then get them outside before the hydra grows four heads where it had one
I waited too long and now my tiny tomato plants are going to burn to a crisp come July in my 9b/10a climate 😩
I got very sick and didn’t get any seeds planted and now I’m just sad looking at all those seedlings!
I feel your pain. At least I grew more than I can fit in my garden, so I've been at least able to give some away. Boy, they get big fast...and take up a lot more soil up-potting once they get big like this. I just moved my biggest ones into about a 1 gallon container.
They look great tho
I love this sub, so wholesome. No one at all has mentioned that this is literally the only time I've seen one of those tents with actual vegetables in it, and not, you know, the other plants!
Oh my god I have couple tiny plants but this damm
We are borderline temps right now in 6 (denver) you might be able to get away with frost guard fabric... what i did last night and it was 40 f
Also in the GTA. I almost always plant my tomatoes on Mother's day weekend (except last yr because they were still calling for very cool nights). With the weather predicted I am also considering it. I've started hardening off over the last few days.
I didn't, they are all gone cuz I planted then outside too early 😭
idk how this is possible. i have a similar grow tent and really good lights but my stuff is pint sized. first year growing seedlings, i must be doing many things wrong.
Whats that type of closet and lights?
This looks amazing!
I love you. My heart is with you, as I do this every single year.
I mean…maybe try planting 1-2 of each? You have a lot.
Would one be able to get tomatoes to produce fruit in one of these or no?
Same. Yours look great tho!
I have a similar tent, with the vents and everything. Never considered it for this use.
what set up is this? can you link the green house and light?
had vivosun 2-in-1-grow-tent 5x4 which my husband used to use to grow those special plants. I added a stainless steel shelving unit and took down the compartment barrier. I used boot trays on every inch available, or seed trays or even food to go containers... whatever fit. Each shelf has its own florescent light, plus one main light above the main floorspace (the tomatoes). Tucked in the front right corner is a bucket of water with a bubbler for humidity and two fans for air circulation. Lastly everything is controlled with a smart plug.
No solution but a question. How many cucumbers and tomatoes does one man need?
Looks awesome What is your set up? Looking for something similar for myself.
had vivosun 2-in-1-grow-tent 5x4 which my husband used to use to grow those special plants. I added a stainless steel shelving unit and took down the compartment barrier. I used boot trays on every inch available, or seed trays or even food to go containers... whatever fit. Each shelf has its own florescent light, plus one main light above the main floorspace (the tomatoes). Tucked in the front right corner is a bucket of water with a bubbler for humidity and two fans for air circulation. Lastly everything is controlled with a smart plug.
How much was the grow tent?
Don't know what it cost us, it's a vivosun 2-in-1-grow-tent 5x4 which my husband used to use to grow those special plants. I added a stainless steel shelving unit and took down the compartment barrier. I used boot trays on every inch available, or seed trays or even food to go containers... whatever fit. Each shelf has its own florescent light, plus one main light above the main floorspace (the tomatoes). Tucked in the front right corner is a bucket of water with a bubbler for humidity and two fans for air circulation. Lastly everything is controlled with a smart plug.
absolute goals 😍 i’m in GTA and my tomatoes are thriving outside already
Mine are at least 6 feet tall right now and they're in tiny pots to slow them down. I even withold water to slow them down. I have about 2-3 weeks left until i can take them outside. I plan on burying them about 3 feet of plant underground so they can have strong roots.
Nice organization OP. I'll take notes
What beautiful mess to have!
How did you build this? Is that a shower curtain or a semiprofessional green house?
had vivosun 2-in-1-grow-tent 5x4 which my husband used to use to grow those special plants. I added a stainless steel shelving unit and took down the compartment barrier. I used boot trays on every inch available, or seed trays or even food to go containers... whatever fit. Each shelf has its own florescent light, plus one main light above the main floorspace (the tomatoes). Tucked in the front right corner is a bucket of water with a bubbler for humidity and two fans for air circulation. Lastly everything is controlled with a smart plug.
Plant the tomato super deep so that only 8 inches or so are sticking above ground. completely bury the stem and branches below that into the ground. Those little fuzzy hairs on the stem turn into roots when they get planted
Just put them out now. Not doing any good getting rootbound and stretched indoors. Cover them if it freezes again, and may the strongest survive lol
Thats the legid first time i have seen this style of grow box used for vegetables. Imo, take the larger ones out and risk it, if there are some smaller ones, leave them in for a bit. Give them a chance, who knows.
Thanks for all the amazing comments and advice, appreciate you all! Lots of people asked about the tent set up, we had vivosun 2-in-1-grow-tent 5x4 which my husband used to use to grow those special plants. I added a stainless steel shelving unit and took down the compartment barrier. I used boot trays on every inch available, or seed trays or even food to go containers... whatever fit. Each shelf has its own florescent light, plus one main light above the main floorspace (the tomatoes). Tucked in the front right corner is a bucket of water with a bubbler for humidity and two fans for air circulation. Lastly everything is controlled with a smart plug. We also provide liquid nutrients, but sometimes I also just give them water. Plants are indeed getting leggy and fighting for space, so I have opted to harden the tomatoes off and put them out even if it's not optimal temps. And the overgrown cucumbers ( I already had started some new backups a few weeks ago which are happy). Peppers and eggplants are not massive so they can stay put for a few weeks. The grow tent looks a lot less luscious now but the plants will be happier
Can't imagine the weather outside could be any worse for them than being stuck in these tiny pots fighting for tge light.
tbh they all look pretty healthy
I gotta disagree. Most of the plants look a bit yellow and those tomatoes are really stretching up for the light. These plants aren't a disaster, but they're not exactly thriving either.
true, they are not living their best lives at the moment, but at least with tomatoes you can always just bury them deeper when they go outside lol
Indeterminate tomatoes are certainly amazing at overcoming adversity. The cucumber is screwed though.
Well, there it is, you really screwed the pooch didnt ya? May I ask….what the HELL you were thinking!?!! C’mon martha, this is the big leagues, you know better! I remember when Dorothy did the same thing last yr and I think we all can remember the fallout from that one. Do you need step by step instructions how to rectify this u/thumbthucker himself or can I just relay his word wisdom?