We had over 2/3rds of an inch of rain yesterday and the coolest afternoon temperature (47F) in over 100 years! I didn't quite have time to de-tangle the too tall tomato plants that were out in the terrible weekend wind so that effort will have to continue, today. Can't do much in the rain-soaked garden. The smaller tomatoes have now been in the same soil for about 5 weeks. They've already had a tiny of sprinkle of dry, organic fertilizer about 2 weeks ago. (Older tomatoes were potted up to 4" pots with a little fertilizer about the same time.) Usually, I get some fish emulsion on them and since it is starting to run late, decided to do that yesterday. But, their soil was still moist and bringing them out into the open meant they would be in the rain . . . what to do, what to do?!? So, those tomatoes went back to being bottom watered in the fish emulsion/water that I'd otherwise have sprinkled on them! I don't know if this was a good idea. Seedlings are in fertile soil mix during the first few weeks of their life. Fertilizing only comes in the last few weeks before they go out into the garden. It has always been just sprinkled but their feet got a good soaking yesterday. Risk-taking; but they look happy this morning -- even if the entire backyard smells of fish emulsion! (oops, there's the neighbor, mr. manicured lawn. i wonder what he thinks of the atmospheric conditions this bright, sunshiny morning.) The peppers are just as root-bound and nutrient-deprived as the tomatoes. I guess I can risk dipping them in the mix . . . a new approach . . . there's always something! Steve

I'm also in NYS, but usually a zone 5, and I use the same plant out dates that you suggested. If it were me I wouldn't start hardening off seedlings with just two sets of leaves, and I don't count how many leaves, rather, how tall the seedlings are before I start hardening them off. I want to set out seedlings that are about 6-9 inches tall and so start hardening them off at about that height and it takes me a full week to harden them off properly depending on the weather. Have I ever set out plants with only two sets of leaves? Yes, I have, but only when there were special circumstances that dictated that I HAD to do that. Sigh. Hope that helps. Carolyn

I did things differently. From Day 1 of fluorescent lights, Sunlight begins to stream in at a low angle in late February and March in the room and falls where I start them together with the fluorescent light. I adjust the blinds if it gets too hot temperature wise in there, which is what I have to be careful about in March upstairs. I transplanted them in March directly into their final containers filled only 2/3 and they are placed in the most direct sunlight with the rolled up the second day and are always well-irrigated. The forecast had a week of rain so I put them outside then, either in my tunnel or under a tree on the driveway, they all go out and are left there. The ones in the hoop are put in their final spaces and under the tree stay there. The humidity is protective and over 90% at night and temperature great as long as they are out by the second week of March. We just as well could have had a freeze then because the extremes can vary here sandwiched between Georgia and Florida, but somebody's got to live here. One night got me at 41 F, but it wasn't as bad as I worried and they were fine. All other nights were over 50 F, mostly 55 F. Now in the second week of April our nightly lows will bottom out at 70 F in a few days, so things move fast. Too fast. By the end of June the party is over. Now is mid April and time to add the final 1/3 of the containers. The bottom sets of leaves have been removed and air healed, so no one will know if one or two had a little heat damage (which is actually due to the reflected heat and would happen to any leaf to some extent) and they've done their job and been removed, and in two days that part of the stem will be buried ;-) PC

Serafina....., You'd laugh if you'd known. Naw, ..... We are also just RENTING a house Up here in Jefferson, GA. So, I completely understand what you mean... we are lucky that we have a Landlord who is happy to get the Rent check and doesn't care about anything else. My setup is FREE stuff that EX tenet's have left behind. All the wood etc.... so it really is kinda funny...$25 for the raised bed soil is about what it has cost so far...(side road bamboo was free also). So I understand what you mean and just ask your L/L if a small area in the yard is OK to plant in. Some people are nice. Good luck! your stuff is looks awesome and whatever help you need...just ask! vivisgarden.... IDK your personal setup.....BUT, there are USUALLY 3 reason why you could be seeing yellowing leaves. it's usually 1 or a combination of these 3 1. Water.... too much OR too little 2. Nutrients..... Not enough OR too little 3. Sun......too much OR too little SO, like I said.... IDK your setup but just google "yellowing tomato leaves" and it will lead you to numerous good sites for info. But, in the end if should boil done to one of those. From personal experience.... I tend to underwater my plants, and when i see those leaves FOR ME ALONE that is my cue to water more. Without photo's it's impossible to help anymore than that with such a broad query.... Gook luck, tomatoes are hearty plants... they will be fine!