Grow your tomatoes at a temperature of 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, or 15 to 18 degrees Celsius. Nighttime temperatures may drop a little lower and will help encourage stronger plants. The growth temperature of tomato seedlings should be maintained at constant temperatures between 58 and 60 F. Originating in the subtropical regions of Central and South America, tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) have very specific growth requirements.
They need full sun, rich soil, and warm temperatures. Ideal nighttime temperatures range between 59 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit with daytime temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees F. When temperatures fall above or below these ranges, problems occur with growth, flowering, and fruit production.
Tomatoes grow
best when daytime temperatures are between 75 and 85 degrees, and nighttime lows are between 60 and 75 degrees.When daytime temperatures rise steadily above 90 degrees and low temperatures remain above 70, flowers fall and fruit development is poor. Cold nights below 60 degrees, on the other hand, reduce pollen production, causing fruits to deform or not set. Gardeners from different climates should approach tomatoes with their unique environments in mind. Tomato temperature tolerance for extreme heat or cold waves is of utmost importance for flower development and subsequent fruit setting.
With the knowledge of what temperatures can destroy your tomato plants, you can now give your plant the best possible care and prevent heat or cold from unintentionally killing it. Protect the tomato patch with a canopy of 20 to 40 percent shade cloth to reduce the temperature by 10 to 30 percent.
Young tomato plants
will stunt below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, as mature plants do not produce fruit at this temperature. Tomato plants survive up to a temperature of 33 degrees Fahrenheit (0.5 degrees Celsius), although they do not produce or grow at this point.Once the seedlings are 4 to 6 inches tall, they can be placed in the garden if the soil temperature is 60 to 70°F. So, if you plan to grow this all-time favorite fruit, better study the ideal temperatures where tomatoes love to grow. To get the earliest fruit in your garden, you can buy some nursery grown tomato plants with flowers or fruits to plant next to them. If you're the type of gardener who keeps records, take note of the date and soil temperature for future plantings.
You can protect the tomatoes by placing a frame over the plants and covering it with transparent plastic; this will protect the plants from heavy rain and cold temperatures. If the soil temperature is cold, or if you can't protect the plants from cold temperatures, growers will “plant the seedlings in pots” as they grow and while the gardener expects outdoor temperatures to rise. However, plants die from temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature beyond which they freeze, and the intercellular fluid solidifies into ice, causing dehydration. Cold temperatures during the night interfere with tomato plants' ability to convert sunlight to sugars through the photosynthesis process.
You will find many tips on growing tomatoes in the articles found on Tomatoes in the Topic Index on this site. You can buy a soil thermometer to get an accurate reading, or you can guess the temperature of the soil by placing your finger on the ground.
