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CrazyAboutOrchids · May 11, 2023

So, traveling on Friday and will be gone for a week. Asking advice from my Tomatoville experts... My last frost date was May 6 but we all know mother nature can always throw a curve ball. My tomato starts did far better under my new LED lights than expected and are further along than previous years growing under lights. They have all been potted up twice, are now in 3.5 x 5 inch pots, are 12-14" tall with thick, sturdy stems, many are flowering. My temps per multiple weather sources...

Sat 82/49 82/49 78/61 78/58
Sun 70/46 70/46 71/51 68/47
Mon 73/52 73/52 72/49 72/47
Tue 73/48 73/47 79/53 70/52
Wed 65/43 65/42 68/46 65/46
Thu 70/51 70/51 67/38 64/41

My son will be here but not sure I can rely on - however, pulling them out of the garage, pushing them in when you arrive home shouldn't be all that hard if I decide not to put in the ground. My worry would be if he left them out - imo - that would be far more damaging to the plants.

I have plastic tunnels which I could put out but I would not feel comfortable asking him to take on/off as I would if here because I have garlic planted in front and would not want him piecing a growing bulb. I am thinking temps are too high for those tunnels to stay on for the week - but maybe someone more experienced would know. The ends can be left open to expel heat.

I do have this insect barrier which I could drape over but not sure it would protect from nighttime temps or not - I have doubts as to its effectiveness for protection since that's not what it is for. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1

I guess a fourth option could be to wrap plastic around cages up a bit so excess heat could be expelled.

Any suggestions? WWYD?

May 11, 2023	#1
CrazyAboutOrchids Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Zone 6 - CT Posts: 151	Decisions, Decisions So, traveling on Friday and will be gone for a week. Asking advice from my Tomatoville experts... My last frost date was May 6 but we all know mother nature can always throw a curve ball. My tomato starts did far better under my new LED lights than expected and are further along than previous years growing under lights. They have all been potted up twice, are now in 3.5 x 5 inch pots, are 12-14" tall with thick, sturdy stems, many are flowering. My temps per multiple weather sources... Sat 82/49 82/49 78/61 78/58 Sun 70/46 70/46 71/51 68/47 Mon 73/52 73/52 72/49 72/47 Tue 73/48 73/47 79/53 70/52 Wed 65/43 65/42 68/46 65/46 Thu 70/51 70/51 67/38 64/41 My son will be here but not sure I can rely on - however, pulling them out of the garage, pushing them in when you arrive home shouldn't be all that hard if I decide not to put in the ground. My worry would be if he left them out - imo - that would be far more damaging to the plants. I have plastic tunnels which I could put out but I would not feel comfortable asking him to take on/off as I would if here because I have garlic planted in front and would not want him piecing a growing bulb. I am thinking temps are too high for those tunnels to stay on for the week - but maybe someone more experienced would know. The ends can be left open to expel heat. I do have this insect barrier which I could drape over but not sure it would protect from nighttime temps or not - I have doubts as to its effectiveness for protection since that's not what it is for. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1 I guess a fourth option could be to wrap plastic around cages up a bit so excess heat could be expelled. Any suggestions? WWYD?