I planted tomato seeds several weeks ago, with the plan that I had 10 weeks until they would go into the ground. Well, they grew beautifully, and I've potted up twice already. They are getting too tall (but are very bushy, not at all leggy) for my grow lights, and I'm thinking I may just go ahead and start to harden them off. I want to plant them in 3 weeks, so I'm thinking I can harden off, and then just leave them out once they are hardened off until I can get them into the ground. This will probably put them outside for a full week once hardened before they go in the ground. Anything I am missing or may need to be thinking about?

Thanks!

Jennie

But if you have no other options I guess you'll have to but you'll need to do it very carefully as plants that old are less tolerant of the adjustments. Can't your lights be adjusted to accommodate them?

If they can't go into the ground for another 3 weeks then it sounds as if you started them far too early. Normally tomato plants only take 6-8 weeks prior to plant out time including hardening off.

Dave

I might be able to get them in the ground sooner. April 1st is our last frost date, so they can go in the ground very shortly if I get them hardened off. The problem is that spring is the busiest time at my work, so I always take a vacation to get everything in the ground. I really do make it more complicated than it might need to be - it won't take that long to get them in the ground - maybe I can do one night after work and get them in sooner than I was planning.

Thanks for the quick reply!

Jennie