Question
QUESTION: I live in upstate NY.  I bought tomato plants a few weeks ago, planted them in whiskey barrels and bring them out during the day and in at night.  At the end of April I had to go to MI and leave my plants inside with 2 Aqua Globes per whiskey barrel out on my sunroom, when I got home it was like a greenhouse and my plants LOVED it!  They grew of course, now they are 2ft. tall with flowers.  I need to plant them in cages outside now, but little did I ever know about the "hardening off" process.  When I got home I move them in and out still during the day, but last night they were kind of white, so today I did the same...took them out, and now they're worse.  Finally I read about this process, brought them back in, am filtering their light, but my question is...am I too late for these to rebound?  

    My plants are already tall, they need to go outside now, but it sounds like I need to give them a couple weeks to mend.  Should I just buy new ones from the nursery and start the "hardening off" process with those now so I can plant by Memorial Day?  I guess you do it once and you'll never forget, please help!

ANSWER: Tammi-
I a little bit confused at what your problem really is. It sounds like you have been "hardening" them off by having them outside all day, except perhaps you left them outside too long on the first day. You now need to leave them outside overnight (assuming your frost date has past) for a couple of nights and then they will be ready to transplant.

Elyse

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Elyse,

    Can I transplant them with the white leaves still and get as many tomatoes as I would have if this didn't happen?

Answer
Tammi-

I'd make sure there is some new growth first. Once you know they are going to recover I think it would be OK to transplant them. They may be a bit behind, but they should catch up and produce just fine. It's pretty early in the season yet.

Elyse