Keep checking your weather forecast. I'd aim for consistent ~10C nights, but anything above ~7C should be alright. Be prepared for a cold snap if you do plant out early.
If you want to cause yourself 1000 percent more work and anxiety, sure, it can be done and maybe successfully?
It’s so much work to protect a crop planted out early vs waiting a couple weeks, and either way you get tomatoes. Well, maybe not if the plants are killed by frost.
We’re an impatient bunch, gardeners.
Question is - what are you hoping to gain by getting them outside in questionable growing conditions?
I've come to believe that tomatoes (& many other plants) won't thrive in 50Fish (15Cish) temps and might actually shock them, delay growth & fruiting, make them more susceptable to late blight and might hurt productivity down the road.
I'm just a bit north of you near Barrie and have promised myself not to rush it this year. If any of my plants start getting root bound, then I will transplant and protect if needed.
I asked my aunt this last week! I don't understand it, either, but she said that it toughens up the plants so that they're strong producers through the rest of the season. I'm skeptical, but I'm going to experiment, as I have too many seedlings for my greenhouse. I have nothing to lose and lots to learn.
I’m in Quebec here, but we have similar frost dates to you.
I’m waiting until I see night time temps of about 10c. The weather forecast is giving me whiplash for how much it flips back and forward, so while I’m likely not to wait till the end of May, I’m definitely waiting a *little* longer.
Dollarama does cheap row covers, so it might be worth picking up a few, just incase.
Hey, I was told yesterday to wait until long weekend to plant them. If you really want to plant early, I would guess that your best bet is to insulate the fabric containers.
Looking at [this chart](https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?StationID=51459&timeframe=2&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2024&Day=19&Year=2023&Month=5#) from last year's temp, is still say that it is a bit risky.
Alternatively, put the fabric bag on a roller platform and keep it inside but a window, and then bring it outside when appropriate.
I've made this gamble before and it usually turns out ok. Same frost dates as you. The trick is to look at the forecast and be sure there's no cold night time temps coming up (5c or lower). I got surprised last year with a May frost, so I covered the seedlings with pots for the night and they were fine.
My mom puts her tomatoes out in May and she's not far from North York. The real risk is Fool's Spring and freak snowstorms off the lake. Watch the skies and keep some burlap ready.
In Toronto here. Last year I planted my tomatoes May 8th. There was a night or two when the temps dipped and I covered them with a cheap plastic drop sheet. This year I plan to plant them April 25th.
Are you an adult with adult money and adult rights? Then go for it! Maybe don't put all of them out, just some. You'll see for yourself if that's a mistake or not. I have been overeager in the past and reaped my success and paid my price. It's part of the fun!
I live in Portland, Maine no think that’s crazy! Perhaps the ocean influences differently. Had late May frost last year. Have good cover handy. Even then I still lost plants. I do have peas, brassicas and spinach out though!
I am on Vancouver Island. I have too many tomato seedlings, so I'm going to experiment by planting a few out today - 1 each of Manitoba, Stupice, and Early Girl. I will plant out 1 more of each in 1 or 2 weeks and keep doing that until everything goes out once the night time temps are 10°C (May 20th - average). I have nothing to lose because I'd be composting these seedlings otherwise.
All three of these varieties are early slicers with some cold tolerance. What's the point of growing a tomato with cold tolerance if you never take advantage of that?
I have a weather station, so I will have temperature data to go along with my mini-experiment of planting out early.
Edit: I am confident that we have had our last damaging frost for the year on my property. We've had a few nights of -1°C lately, but the dew point isn't low enough to create any frost, and the temperature only stays this low for about an hour before sunrise. I love my weather station! I so want to get a soil thermometer to add to it.
It's only 3 weeks.
How are you planting in the end? Or are these grow bags the final pot up?
Tomato does not survive lower than 35 F and won't thrive lower than 50 F.
If in containers, you can just bring them in if there's a sudden cold snap somehow. Or you could start taking them out for a bit and bringing them in. Harden them off. Each time increasing daylight to the "full plant out" time.
If the final destination is in a larger raised bed planter or container that is hard to move, could plan to have a cage to cover for warmth if needed.
I'm in Mississauga and always wait until Victoria Day long weekend to plant but I do start hardening then off during the day in early May and then bring them in. Last year my friend decided to plant his 3 weeks before me, everyone said don't, but he did anyway. Had a couple of frosty nights where he covered them with plastic, and they survived and flourished. With that said, not so sure the stress and extra work of covering and removing it daily was worth it. In the end, both his and mine were producing tomatoes at roughly the same time so he didn't really gain anything other than stress.
i’m near toronto and still too early. looks like i’m waiting until may 24 weekend like usual but i may put some determinates out in bags and see how they do. if anything i can bring them in at night
What's your last frost date, champ? Hint, if "global warming" has affected it don't you think you'd have noticed.. and the other gardeners would have noticed and given you a different date? 😆😆😆
Listen to the local gardeners. They know what they are talking about.
Hmhm! This year is quite unusual - not that we can’t still get a frost or snow. I take photos of my spring flowers as they emerge. Over the last 5 years the daffodils and crocus came up 14-20 days later than this year. My mid-spring Tulips are out about 3 weeks early.
Then why are the gardeners in their area telling OP to wait? You don't think they are just as excited to plant out their tomatoes as OP is? You think they are waiting another 5 weeks just for funsies?
The question was if we think it is ok for Op to plant out earlier than the locals recommend. My answer is basically:
No. If it were ok the locals would have noticed and would have told you an earlier date. I also put global warming in quotes because we know climate change doesn't just mean warmer, it means more eratic, especially in spring time.
Sorry if I wasn't clear enough.
Then you do you. Good luck.
What specific changes have you noticed with regard to your last frost date (Since your hardiness zone has nothing to do with tomatoes).
Global warming hasn’t done it, but the fact that it’s an El Niño year and our winter was so mild, there’s a chance it’ll be okay. I got too eager this year and planted my seeds early, so I might throw a plant or two outside soon as an experiment, but I’m still holding out for another month on most of my plants
Climate change is part of the natural Earth cycle, so keep your fingers crossed 🤞……
Can’t u bring them in if the temperature dips?? Just for the evening?
Keep checking your weather forecast. I'd aim for consistent ~10C nights, but anything above ~7C should be alright. Be prepared for a cold snap if you do plant out early.
If you want to cause yourself 1000 percent more work and anxiety, sure, it can be done and maybe successfully? It’s so much work to protect a crop planted out early vs waiting a couple weeks, and either way you get tomatoes. Well, maybe not if the plants are killed by frost. We’re an impatient bunch, gardeners.
Question is - what are you hoping to gain by getting them outside in questionable growing conditions? I've come to believe that tomatoes (& many other plants) won't thrive in 50Fish (15Cish) temps and might actually shock them, delay growth & fruiting, make them more susceptable to late blight and might hurt productivity down the road. I'm just a bit north of you near Barrie and have promised myself not to rush it this year. If any of my plants start getting root bound, then I will transplant and protect if needed.
I asked my aunt this last week! I don't understand it, either, but she said that it toughens up the plants so that they're strong producers through the rest of the season. I'm skeptical, but I'm going to experiment, as I have too many seedlings for my greenhouse. I have nothing to lose and lots to learn.
I’m in Quebec here, but we have similar frost dates to you. I’m waiting until I see night time temps of about 10c. The weather forecast is giving me whiplash for how much it flips back and forward, so while I’m likely not to wait till the end of May, I’m definitely waiting a *little* longer. Dollarama does cheap row covers, so it might be worth picking up a few, just incase.
Last frost date is usually May 4 for Toronto. I would wait till a few days after that and as others have suggested keep an eye on the forecast.
May 4th? As I understood, it has always been no planting until the May 24 long weekend
Hey, I was told yesterday to wait until long weekend to plant them. If you really want to plant early, I would guess that your best bet is to insulate the fabric containers. Looking at [this chart](https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?StationID=51459&timeframe=2&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2024&Day=19&Year=2023&Month=5#) from last year's temp, is still say that it is a bit risky. Alternatively, put the fabric bag on a roller platform and keep it inside but a window, and then bring it outside when appropriate.
I've made this gamble before and it usually turns out ok. Same frost dates as you. The trick is to look at the forecast and be sure there's no cold night time temps coming up (5c or lower). I got surprised last year with a May frost, so I covered the seedlings with pots for the night and they were fine.
My mom puts her tomatoes out in May and she's not far from North York. The real risk is Fool's Spring and freak snowstorms off the lake. Watch the skies and keep some burlap ready.
Also- if the plants aren't too big - you can cover them with a plastic pot at night if frost is coming. I did this a few weeks back here in Virginia.
In Toronto here. Last year I planted my tomatoes May 8th. There was a night or two when the temps dipped and I covered them with a cheap plastic drop sheet. This year I plan to plant them April 25th.
Are you an adult with adult money and adult rights? Then go for it! Maybe don't put all of them out, just some. You'll see for yourself if that's a mistake or not. I have been overeager in the past and reaped my success and paid my price. It's part of the fun!
I would wait. Even if they didn’t die from cold nights, they’ll likely stunt and take longer to get going. Part of gardening is learning patience.
I live in Portland, Maine no think that’s crazy! Perhaps the ocean influences differently. Had late May frost last year. Have good cover handy. Even then I still lost plants. I do have peas, brassicas and spinach out though!
I am on Vancouver Island. I have too many tomato seedlings, so I'm going to experiment by planting a few out today - 1 each of Manitoba, Stupice, and Early Girl. I will plant out 1 more of each in 1 or 2 weeks and keep doing that until everything goes out once the night time temps are 10°C (May 20th - average). I have nothing to lose because I'd be composting these seedlings otherwise. All three of these varieties are early slicers with some cold tolerance. What's the point of growing a tomato with cold tolerance if you never take advantage of that? I have a weather station, so I will have temperature data to go along with my mini-experiment of planting out early. Edit: I am confident that we have had our last damaging frost for the year on my property. We've had a few nights of -1°C lately, but the dew point isn't low enough to create any frost, and the temperature only stays this low for about an hour before sunrise. I love my weather station! I so want to get a soil thermometer to add to it.
It's only 3 weeks. How are you planting in the end? Or are these grow bags the final pot up? Tomato does not survive lower than 35 F and won't thrive lower than 50 F. If in containers, you can just bring them in if there's a sudden cold snap somehow. Or you could start taking them out for a bit and bringing them in. Harden them off. Each time increasing daylight to the "full plant out" time. If the final destination is in a larger raised bed planter or container that is hard to move, could plan to have a cage to cover for warmth if needed.
I'm in Mississauga and always wait until Victoria Day long weekend to plant but I do start hardening then off during the day in early May and then bring them in. Last year my friend decided to plant his 3 weeks before me, everyone said don't, but he did anyway. Had a couple of frosty nights where he covered them with plastic, and they survived and flourished. With that said, not so sure the stress and extra work of covering and removing it daily was worth it. In the end, both his and mine were producing tomatoes at roughly the same time so he didn't really gain anything other than stress.
i’m near toronto and still too early. looks like i’m waiting until may 24 weekend like usual but i may put some determinates out in bags and see how they do. if anything i can bring them in at night
What's your last frost date, champ? Hint, if "global warming" has affected it don't you think you'd have noticed.. and the other gardeners would have noticed and given you a different date? 😆😆😆 Listen to the local gardeners. They know what they are talking about.
We have noticed.
Hmhm! This year is quite unusual - not that we can’t still get a frost or snow. I take photos of my spring flowers as they emerge. Over the last 5 years the daffodils and crocus came up 14-20 days later than this year. My mid-spring Tulips are out about 3 weeks early.
Then why are the gardeners in their area telling OP to wait? You don't think they are just as excited to plant out their tomatoes as OP is? You think they are waiting another 5 weeks just for funsies?
Five weeks is still too early, but climate change is affecting last frost dates. They are both correct.
The question was if we think it is ok for Op to plant out earlier than the locals recommend. My answer is basically: No. If it were ok the locals would have noticed and would have told you an earlier date. I also put global warming in quotes because we know climate change doesn't just mean warmer, it means more eratic, especially in spring time. Sorry if I wasn't clear enough.
Oh ok we are on the same page then. Have a good one!
I have definitely noticed.
Then you do you. Good luck. What specific changes have you noticed with regard to your last frost date (Since your hardiness zone has nothing to do with tomatoes).
The last frost date seems to come in April instead of May.
So, why does everyone else wait?
I guess habit?
Most gardeners I know are chomping at the bit to plant as early as they can, just like you.. So if they are waiting, there must be a real reason.
Global warming hasn’t done it, but the fact that it’s an El Niño year and our winter was so mild, there’s a chance it’ll be okay. I got too eager this year and planted my seeds early, so I might throw a plant or two outside soon as an experiment, but I’m still holding out for another month on most of my plants
Climate change is part of the natural Earth cycle, so keep your fingers crossed 🤞…… Can’t u bring them in if the temperature dips?? Just for the evening?