Is 37 too cold for tomatoes?

Author: Ms. Erika Frami IV  |  Last update: Thursday, April 3, 2025

Another temperature to keep in mind: tomato plants will not survive in temperatures below 35 degrees Fahrenheit, and will not thrive at temperatures below 50 degrees. Gardeners can use a frost date calendar to note their region's average dates of last frost in spring and first frost in fall.

Will 37 degrees hurt tomato plants?

Tomato seedlings suffer cold damage in temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Some tomato varieties are bred to be more cold-tolerant and can set fruit when it's below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

What temperature is too cold for tomatoes at night?

Scientists in the ARS Photosynthesis Research Unit at Urbana, Illinois, have discovered a drop in the overnight temperature below 50°F can create a biochemical version of mission impossible for some crops like tomatoes, soybeans, and corn.

Will plants be ok at 37 degrees?

Seedlings, with their tender new leaves, often give up the ghost when temperatures dip to 32-33°F. Tropical plants have differing low-temperature thresholds. Some keel over when temps fall to 40°F; others crumble at 35°F. Other plants are just hardy by nature and can withstand temperatures as low as 18-20°F.

Can tomatoes and peppers survive 40 degree weather?

People have asked, can peppers survive 40˚ F temperatures? Most peppers are not happy when temperatures drop below 50-60˚ F.

Is 40 degrees too cold for tomatoes?

Will 37 degrees hurt pepper plants?

However, warm-season vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons and squash can be damaged if the temperature drops to 33 F. Consider these tips to help protect your plants as temperatures drop. * Cover plants at night.

Should I cover my plants at 38 degrees?

Covering plant material at temperatures between 39-30 with freeze cloth or covering can be effective. Prolonged exposure at temperatures of 28 degrees and below will notice protection results diminish with each degree dropped.

What overnight temp is too cold for plants?

There are, of course, many variables that can affect winter hardiness in a plant, but in general, my rule of thumb is as long as the mercury stays in the 20's at night and rises above freezing during the day, our plants should be just fine.

How cold can peppers tolerate at night?

Climate. Transplant outdoors after nighttime low temperatures are above 50°F. Dry soil, temperatures above 90°F, or night temperatures below 60°F or above 70°F, can weaken plant growth.

What temperature do I need to cover my vegetable garden?

Cover Plants

Once temperatures drop below about 28°F, covering is typically no longer effective at preventing cold damage. Occasionally even with covering you may still see damage at temperatures above 28°F, especially when the below freezing temperatures are prolonged (5 hours or more).

How cold can cucumber plants tolerate at night?

Even prolonged exposure to temperatures below 55 degrees F. (13 C.) can cause decay, pitting, and water-soaked areas on fruit. Sudden cold snaps can cause cucumber plant damage on leaves, stems, and fruit or even kill the plants.

What is the most cold tolerant tomato?

To help you pick, we've listed the best varieties of open pollinated tomatoes for colder regions by days to maturity:
  • Manitoba Tomato (55-60 days)
  • Moskvich Tomato (65 days)
  • Grushovka Tomato (65 days)
  • Siberian Tomato (70 days)
  • Principe Borghese Tomato (75 days)
  • Arbuznyi Tomato (75 days)
  • Principe Borghese Tomato.

Is 40 degrees too cold for vegetable plants?

Frost Hardy

Root crops develop more sugars when the soil temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit; and Brussels sprouts are often best after a light freeze. Among the hardiest vegetables are cole crops, which can tolerate moderate freezes (24 to 28 degrees Fahrenheit) : Broccoli, cauliflower (26 degrees Fahrenheit)

At what temperature should I cover my tomato plants?

It's sunny again… wait… ), but some vegetables won't be happy (and grow into incredibly prolific tomato producers - yes, I'm talking to you, tomato fanatics) if you don't protect them until night temperatures warm up consistently to 50 degrees and above.

How to keep tomato plants warm at night?

Fabric is a better choice because it will let moisture out while holding onto some heat from the earth. You could also cover the plants with buckets or storage totes and place hot water bottles near them. Also, my sympathies for the late frost.

Can peppers survive frost?

You might think of peppers as annuals if you're growing anywhere other than a tropical or subtropical climate. That's because peppers can't handle freezing temperatures.

What is the lowest temperature for tomatoes and peppers?

Know Temps for Fruit All Summer

Another temperature to keep in mind: tomato plants will not survive in temperatures below 35 degrees Fahrenheit, and will not thrive at temperatures below 50 degrees.

What plants need to be covered at 40 degrees?

First, it's good to know which plants are sensitive to temps around 35 or 40 degrees F. These are common tender plants that will need some protection. Hanging baskets: begonias, calibrachoa, gerbera, impatiens, vinca, euphorbia, and scoparia.

How cold can zucchini plants tolerate?

Zucchini is a warm-season crop that cannot tolerate frost or freezing temperatures, so its best to plant your zucchini in the early summer, when temperatures are at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit or more.

Should I bring my plants in at 38 degrees?

If you placed some of your indoor plants outside for the summer, you will need to move them back indoors before temperatures get too cold. When nighttime temperatures start to dip consistently to around 50°F, it's time to bring plants back indoors.

Will plants freeze at 35 degrees?

Freeze Warning - This is issued when there is at least an 80% chance that the temperature will hit 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Light freeze - 29° to 32° Fahrenheit will kill tender plants. Moderate freeze - 25° to 28° Fahrenheit is widely destructive to most vegetation.

Can plants recover from cold shock?

On a cellular level, this means that as the water turns to ice, it expands, rupturing the cell wall. This is permanent damage, but it doesn't mean the plant will die. If the damage is isolated to a portion of the plant, it can be revived and recover.

Can it frost at 39 degrees?

A local study done on frost formation relating temperature to dew point has these guidelines for frost: temperatures from 38 to 42 F can lead to patchy frost, 33 to 37 areas of frost, and 32 and below widespread frost/freeze.

What's too cold for cucumber plants?

Below 63°F, cucumbers do not grow. In such conditions, plants sit in the soil and become susceptible to damages caused by pests in the soil. With that said, check soil temperatures and be sure they are above 63°F before planting cucumbers.

Is 39 degrees too cold for annuals?

Temperatures below 32 degrees can freeze the leaf tissue of cold-wimpy plants and turn them to mush after just a few hours. Some of the most tender annuals and veggies might not die but suffer cold-induced setbacks even when overnight lows dip below 40.

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