How Low Temperature Can Tomato Plants Withstand

Tomato plants are widely grown and popularly used for food consumption across the world. These plants require optimum temperature, light, and humidity levels to grow healthy and produce high-quality fruit. However, sometimes, it becomes challenging to maintain these optimal conditions due to various environmental factors, including temperature fluctuations. In this article, we would explore how low temperature tomato plants can withstand and still produce the desired quality and quantity of fruit.

Tomato Plant's Temperature Requirement

Tomato plants thrive in warm soil, moisture, and air. Generally, tomatoes grow best in a temperature range of 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F), and anything below or above this range can affect the plant's growth and fruit quality. Temperatures above 32°C (90°F) have been reported to reduce the fruit's size and quality, while those below 10°C (50°F) can cause chilling injury, leading to various physiological disorders such as fruit pitting, water-soaked spots, and a rapid increase in the rate of decay.

Types of Tomato Varieties and Their Cold Tolerance Level

There are various tomato varieties in the market, and each has its cold tolerance level. Some tomato varieties can withstand low temperature better than others, and that makes them a suitable choice for planting in areas with cold climatic conditions. For instance, cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and plum tomatoes are more resistant to cold weather than beefsteak tomatoes. If you intend to grow tomato plants in colder areas, you can opt for cold-tolerant varieties such as Siberia, Black Prince, and Latah.

How Low Can Tomato Plants Tolerate?

The ability of tomato plants to tolerate low temperatures depends on several factors, such as the plant's current stage of growth, the variety of tomato, and the intensity and duration of the cold temperature. Generally, mature tomato plants have better cold tolerance than young plants. Mature tomato plants can tolerate low temperature of 5°C (41°F) for a short period without significant damage, while young seedlings cannot tolerate temperatures below 10°C (50°F).

Protective Measures to Help Tomato Plants Tolerate Low Temperature

There are several measures that tomato growers can employ to help their plants tolerate low temperature and still produce quality fruit.

1. Covering the Tomato Plants - Using a protective covering over the plants can shield them from the cold, which helps to retain heat around the plants. You can use blankets, tarps, straw, or any other material that can cover the plant (s) without weighing them down.

2.Plan Your Planting Time - In cold climate areas, growers can plant their tomato seedlings earlier than the recommended planting time. This ensures that the plants have enough time to mature before the temperature drops too low for the plants to survive.

3. Watering the Plants - Watering your tomato plants before the onset of winter helps to keep the soil moist and warm, thus heeling the plants to withstand cold temperatures. However, it would help avoid over-watering the plants, which can lead to fungal infections in the plants.

Conclusion

Tomato plants are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, and it requires a lot of care and attention from growers to achieve optimal fruit quality and yield. However, tomato plants have some cold tolerance level, and growers can employ several protective measures to help the plants survive in colder climates. By following the tips outlined above, growers can help their tomato plants thrive and produce high-quality fruit despite the cold weather.