Hardening tobacco seedlings

[CigarNews]

I am a new grower and learning lots. I live in Houston, Tx and it is still extremely hot. My seedlings are 8 weeks old and about ready to go outside to grow. It is so darn hot though and I thin the heat will kill them. Any advice for how to harden them now? Looking for how often to place them outside to start with? In the shade? Time of day? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Aaron]

I hate to say it but it's late to plant in your area I think. I know we have several members in your area that could advise you better than me for your area. How many seedlings do plan to plant?

 

[darren1979]

Im with Aaron on this, its very late in the season to think about planting out. If you are only growing a few plants then maybe it world work, any sign of frost they get moved in doors and become house plants.

As for hardening off keep them out of direct sunlight for the first week, then slowly introduce them to the sun but keep a close eye on them or they end up turning crispy and dieing.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

I harden mine off by putting them in the sun the first day for 20 minutes, the next day for about the same, maybe 30 minutes. The 3rd day I try for an hour but in your case you might want to wait a week before you go for an hour. If I see the plants wilt I'll pull them out of the sun and put them into the shade for a few hours to recover, then back into the sun. It usually takes me about me about 10 days to 2 weeks to have mine hardened off. Keep an eye on the moisture content of the soil. Those little plants will dry out with the blink of an eye...especially in Texas

 

[deluxestogie]

As for the timliness of your transplanting, when is your average first frost date in the Houston area?

Bob

 

[CigarNews]

Thanks for the hardening off info. First frost in Houston is usually January, if ever. The past 8 years here we have had 3 frost years. I will grow half of my plants in my large custom built greenhouse at my farm. The other half will be outside. If my plants are 2 months old now, Janury is 5 months away, so there are some chances of some loss.

 

[Aaron]

Wow, January? Very nice. Sounds like you should be ok then.

 

[CigarNews]

Agree, built the greenhouse for insurance.

 

[leverhead]

You must be on the South side of town. If you've got the sand to come this far, don't stop now. I planted late, mid/late May, The heat is tough on small plants. I think it's the small roots, if your really careful with the water you may get by. Don't over-water and don't let them dry out, water off to the side a bit and let the water get to them. I gave up this year trying to grow in the ground in Cypress, this soil is nasty. I lucked into some nice soil up in Montgomery county. As far as hardening off, I can't tell you much. I started everything outside and left it outside, I had no problems, but that was April. If you can keep the roots in good shape, tobacco loves the heat and humidity here. Next year I'm going to start seeds the end of January, maybe the spring rains won't drown everything.

OOPS.... Welcome!

 

[CigarNews]

Leverhead, My farm house is in a gem of a town south of Brenham called New Ulm, TX. Soil is sandy and rich. I am planting my crops on land that was fertilized by live chickens for the past 10 years. I got lucky!

Jeff

 

[leverhead]

My parents live in Whitehall, it starts to get pretty above Prairie View. Keep some chickens, good fryers are getting hard to find. I think Guinea hens are hardier and the eggs are great. Good luck with your grow, I hope you're right about the frost. Chicken is a big fan of poultry litter, you and he will have something to talk about. That breeze you guys get out there should make for a pleasant evening smoke watching the leaves wave at you.

Steve

 

[CigarNews]

Steve, I tell you what. I have some other stuff that I grow in chicken poop and grows like crazy, you just can't use too much! The Tobacco plants are going to love it when I plant in 3-4 weeks!

-Jeff

 

[leverhead]

stuff that I grow in chicken poop and grows like crazy

I've heard it grows fast just to get away from it.

 

[CigarNews]

Good one

 

[johnlee1933]

I've heard it grows fast just to get away from it.

I heard you can grow bowling balls with it.

John

 

[leverhead]

I heard you can grow bowling balls with it.

John

Off topic, I've heard of tennis elbow. Bowling balls?
Steve

 

[Tom_in_TN]

I kept young seedlings on a SE facing covered porch. Used old window screens at all times to cover the seedlings until transplant. They got sun in the mornings, shade after noon until 3 hours before sundown. They did great. With 8 week-old seedlings, and it is hot and dry, be certain to keep 'em watered. If the potting soil gets the least bit dry they wilt, that's OK if you can water them right away. They will build a tolerance to dry soil.

Transplant late afternoon until all are transplanted, use headlamp if necessary after dark, or wait till the next afternoon. You could also cover the transplants with lightweight cover fabric for the 1st week or so.

 

[CigarNews]

Tom, huge help. Thanks.