Knowledgebase

Tomato Time? #749928

Asked May 14, 2021, 1:27 PM EDT

Hello, I live in New Hope in the Minneapolis area. Looking ahead at the forecast, I see lows in the 50s at night and highs in the 70s after this weekend. Would this be a good time to transplant my hardened-off seedlings, or is it still too cool? Thank you! Bob Butson

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

If the temperatures will stay above 50 degrees, it should be safe to transplant the seedlings. 

A general rule of thumb, when using air temperatures as a guide, is to wait until night time temperatures are steadily at or above 50° Fahrenheit before transplanting peppers, tomatoes, and most tender seedlings into the ground.

The best way to determine whether it’s time to transplant seedlings is to use a soil thermometer, which you can find inexpensively in a nursery or hardware store. The ideal soil temperature for planting and growing most vegetables is 65° to 75°F.

Wait if you can for a gloomy, cloudy day to plant seedlings in the garden.

For more information on transplanting seedlings, see

https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/12281/early-seasonvegetables.pdf

https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/planting-vegetable-garden#starting-seeds-1975410

Diane M Replied May 14, 2021, 5:13 PM EDT

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