Who is hardening off their tender stuff in a cold frame now?

[taffetacat]

I have been for a week, it has some half hardy annual flowers in plus courgettes, French beans and peas. I am going to plant them all out this weekend I think and then refill it with tomatoes, herbs and the remainder of my tender fruit and veg with the exception of my peppers and chillis which I think I will keep indoors til end of May. I am in Kent.

Anyone else hardening off plants or planted out tender stuff yet?

I got fed up of mine in the polytunnel and planted out beans and sweetcorn this week. Covered them in fleece though because it is a bit early. My peas are up, in fact I saw some at the weekend in someone else's garden with flowers on - they were nearer the coast though - should be fine. Just have the fleece handy and take a risk.

Well I have just made a BIG mistake. I went away for 4 days and looked at the weather forecast and assumed it would all be ok. I left my tomato plants by a gap in the hedge and asked my neighbour to water them.....I've come back to what must be frost damage.
Some have totally "gone", but the larger plants have had the leaves go 2 tone in colour.

Should I just leave them and see what happens or would you cut them and see if they shoot again?? Think I may have to re plant seeds though and start from scratch 7 weeks late!!

Im so annoyed as some of them were 12 inches high.

So in answer to your question - I'd leave it for now!!

justbeme - oh no! If I were you I'd get down to Homebase or similar and get some tomato seedlings, they are cheap at the moment. I know it sticks in the throat.

porridge - how is the sweetcorn doing?

Tis cold here this weekend so shall be postponing til next weekend I think. My Laurentia in the coldframe look a bit chilly but the rest look OK for the time being....

I'm hardening off rainbow chard, rocket, sweet peas and spinach at the moment. Being very cautious with everything else as I've seen quite a few people lose their beans and courgettes recently on my allotment site. It's a new one so we're all new and a lot of trial and error going on. I think there's more frost to come so am planning to have most stuff hardened off for end of May.

Justbe, your poor tomatoes. I got 5 Sungold seedlings in Wilkinsons the other day for 64p which worked out pretty much cheaper than buying seed.

Thanks for the advice - will have a look at some seedlings