When can I transplant my starters outside? - Ask Extension
Hello I am in Tanasbourne and I was wondering if you could provide some advice for my garden. It's my first year starting indoors, I started several v...
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When can I transplant my starters outside? #866618
Asked May 01, 2024, 1:14 PM EDT
Hello I am in Tanasbourne and I was wondering if you could provide some advice for my garden. It's my first year starting indoors, I started several varieties of peppers and tomatoes about 7 weeks ago.
They've had a few issues but I've already transplanted them into bigger containers... The weather this April has been unseasonably cold getting down to low 30s so I've been putting off transplanting them outside... I've been acclimating them but I've read that it isn't great especially for the peppers to be in anything under 50...
This next week is supposed to keep getting well below 50 at night, even 36 as far as may 8th...
I'm just wondering if you guys have any advice on how/when I can get them outside permanently... Am I overthinking this weather? Would it be better to just get them outside this next week since I have limited indoor lighting and can't really get them all adequate light if I increase their do container sizes?
Also, it's supposed to rain nearly an inch friday.. Would that make it harder on them to transfer before an inch of rain?
I guess I was mostly wanting to ask you guys since you know gardening in oregon specifically. Also was wondering if most people are doing their transplanting right now.
Heres a pic of our weekly forecast here in Tanasbourne and my little tray of plants.
Thank you for your time!
Washington County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Kyler and thanks for asking about when to transplant your starts. You are so right that weather can make a huge difference. I am nursing my tomatoes along in a cold frame. If you don't have one you should be putting them outside for a couple hours each day, increasing bit by bit until they are out for a full day before you want to plant them.
I think next weekend (Mother's Day weekend) is finally supposed to warm up, but basically tomatoes and peppers like their soil at least 60 degrees and my soil thermometer still says 50. Your plants look great, so I wouldn't worry about them being inside, but start getting them "hardened off", the gardener's term for getting them used to being outside.
After May 15 we usually don't have frosts, but if one is predicted and you've planted outside, you can always cover them with a light cloth for the night and the soil heat will keep them from freezing. I will plant mine out next weekend after this weekend's huge rainstorms are over and it warms up again!
They will be fine in the pots they are in until then.
Nice work!
I think next weekend (Mother's Day weekend) is finally supposed to warm up, but basically tomatoes and peppers like their soil at least 60 degrees and my soil thermometer still says 50. Your plants look great, so I wouldn't worry about them being inside, but start getting them "hardened off", the gardener's term for getting them used to being outside.
After May 15 we usually don't have frosts, but if one is predicted and you've planted outside, you can always cover them with a light cloth for the night and the soil heat will keep them from freezing. I will plant mine out next weekend after this weekend's huge rainstorms are over and it warms up again!
They will be fine in the pots they are in until then.
Nice work!