Night temps too cool for veggies?

[Anonymous]

I spent the day yesterday prepping the soil for my vegetable garden hoping to put the small plants I bought into the ground today. But looking at the forecast for the upcoming week the nighttime temperatures will be in the 40s/ 50s. Are those night temperatures too cool for tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers or will the soil still be warm enough from the daytime sun?

[Anonymous]

It’ll be fine. I’ve planted everything but tomatoes and I’m doing those today.

[Anonymous]

Go for it!

I put everything in this weekend.

[Anonymous]

I've planted most of my things too, but I was running out of time yesterday and decided to hold off on the basil given the temps this week. That tends to be sensitive IME.

[Anonymous]

I planted last week and they've been growing. They looked a little droppy one day but recovered since.

[Anonymous]

Don't plant tomatoes until nighttime temps are above 55. Sixty is better.

They will grow but they can suffer from blossom drop, which sucks.

[Anonymous]

You’re fine. My tomatoes are out, it doesn’t get cool for long.

[Anonymous]

Peppers really need warmer temps, they’ll get stunted in the 40s. Memorial Day weekend is when I put the peppers out and I have them outside during the day from now until then.

I grow at least 10 varieties a year and do very well. I kept trying to put them out in May bc I’d get fooled by warmth - but until Memorial Day the risk of 40s overnight (and cold rains!) have not passed. Cold temps for young pepper plants is very damaging.

Tomatoes aren’t far behind, but I’ll put those out in mid-May, even when it’s a cool May like this one.