[Pony Girl]

It looks like we've got a break in the rain for about 4 days from Friday before it starts again. I'm desperate to get my tomatoes out into the polytunnel as they're gigantic and already in flower - in fact some of the 100s and 1000s have their very first tiny tomatoes showing (though these will be going outside in containers not polytunnel).

Is 4 days long enough to harden them off outside during the day before I put them out?

If not, what do you think is the minimum I can get away with?

[Pony Girl]

When I say 'put them out' I mean out in the polytunnel not the great outdoors - I will wait a bit longer for the outdoor ones. Is June normally an OK time for these?

[DD.]

If the BBC 5 day weather forecast is to be relied on, then I'd say you can put them in the polytunnel and leave them. The outside temp for your area is given to only dip a couple of degrees below 10C, so the polytunnel should take good care of that.

Keep an eye on the forecast though and it it looks as though it's going to get a bit cooler, be prepared to take action.

June should be OK in your neck of the woods for outside ones, in fact I hope it's OK for mine!

[m1ckz]

yes indeed, my garden pearle are romping away in the conservatory (unheated ) got there first set of flowers,thinking of putting some in large pots, then they can stay there,prob be too big to transplant soon

[Pony Girl]

Ooh how exciting! My husband will be so pleased to get our lounge and bedroom back!

I always thought you had to harden them off over a few weeks? It's just been so wet and cold they've had to stay in the house.

[mceuskadi]

I am living in Crawley,  we moved our tomatoes, peppers and so on into our polytunnel on sunday and they are all fine. We did no hardening of at all. The minimum temperature inside the polytunnel was 9C since Sunday.

[DD.]

If you were going from inside direct to outside, you would have to.

You're going in between so you should be fine.

[JayG]

"Hardening off" usually refers to getting plants used to outside conditions before actually transplanting outside, although given our topsy-turvy climate recently I guess it could sometimes apply to moving plants into a greenhouse/polytunnel from the house. 

I've just moved my toms into the greenhouse where, frosts permitting, they will stay - all the other tender crops are either only just showing or have only just been sown so will stay in the house for the time being.

[Pony Girl]

Thanks guys. I'll rehome them to the polytunnel this weekend.

I'll actually miss having them in the house (as I feel so proud to have actually grown them and can't stop looking at them!) but least I'll have the space to sow some courgettes.

Summer's on its way! :-)

[Willow_Warren]

Summer's on its way! :-)

Shushhhh... don't scare it off....

H

[angelavdavis]

Hi Pony Girl,  I am in St Leonards on Sea and many of my tomatoes have been in an unheated greenhouse for three weeks now (I moved some more in today that I hadn't had a chance to pot on before).  

When very cold nights have been forecast, I have chucked some fleece over the plants to add a bit more protection.

[Pony Girl]

Wow, Angela, just round the corner!

Unfortunately my polytunnel and veg patch are actually in Battle so I only get up there about 3 times a week and won't always be on hand with the fleece but I've got a friend who might be able to keep an eye on them for me. I'm going to go for it tomorrow!

Today looks like a bit of a washout, doesn't it?!!! How much more rain?!!

My chickens are started to get webbed feet!

[angelavdavis]

Yes my chickens are  living in a quagmire and are not happy - poor things!

I didn't get a chance to get to the plot today with the rain but here's hoping tomorrow will be promising - if we get a sunny forecast, I will be packing a picnic for the kids and its straight up to the plot after their playgroup session in the morning!