Joseph

If you have a clam day (and if it going to be warm out, 45F or more) I'd start setting them outside in a protected location, hour a day to start. Make sure they don't dry out or get cold or get sunburn or .... More light and a little breeze would help toughen them up. IMO, younger plants seem to adapt to real weather easier than older plants (hardened off easier).

I'm starting a few Sudduth's Strain Brandywines this year (grew generic Brandywines in the past).

I read in a book that Sudduth's Strain Brandywine had superb taste, so I wanted to give it a try this year. I know, it's radical to be reading books but I'm an old f*rt.

They need to be transplanted much deeper so that all that bare stem is buried. Then the amount of light needs to be increased substantially to prevent them turning weak and leggy again. If they were getting enough light intensity the stems would only be 1/3 as long.

Please note we aren't talking about the # of hours although 24 hours poses no problems but the intensity, the amount of lumens, they are getting. If the lights aren't just barely above the top of the plants and the intensity isn't enough then they stretch out their stems like that.

Dave

Unfortunately most don't realize it until the leaves develop a bit more and become too heavy for the weak stem to support. The plants fall over and often the stem is damaged or broken.

That's why transplanting them deeply now, burying all the stretched stem, is important as it prevents that from happening. Plus it allows roots to develop all along the buried stem and strengthen the plant at the same time.

Dave.