I'd plant them if they were mine. High forties - no sweat. High thirties - think about covering up. We had 37F the other morning and no visable damage. I've had plants in the ground since April 1st.
Jim

I agree with Jim. I'd plant them out, especially if the day time temp is good and the soil temp is not too cold.

Thanks!!

So....harden off or no?

Hi,

I'm in Van Nuys and SFV has temps forecasted in the 70s-high 80's for the next ten days. I think it's the perfect time to harden off and put your tomatoes in the ground. Mine still have two or three weeks of growing left to go before they're big enough to go outside but I've had okra, cantaloupe, beans, and cukes in the ground the the last couple weeks. The okra hasn't been happy with the low temps but it's finally starting to warm up now.

bubblemama, definitely harden them off for a week at least. Actually this way they can get the sun in the morning and if the night temps are really terrible you can move them to a more sheltered location.

During hardening, I would put them in shade the first couple of days before allowing direct sun to hit them.

I picked up 18 plants at Tomatomania on March 23. I kept them outside during the day and they spent the first 2 nights in the garage. The rest of the time they spent outside till I planted them on 4/2...2 weeks ago today.
They are all doing fine here in Chatsworth \ San Fernando Valley.. Hope this helps and Good Growing to you !

Rob

Mine are already outside. Tomatoes dont like cold and will pretty much sit there, but not die. As nightime tips go below 40 you may get some damage without cover.