i started some tomato seeds outside and they are about 5 inches or so tall now, i'm having a terrible time with whiteflies this year for some reason, problem is they are getting on the new plants, these plants are for a friend of mine and is planning on bringing them down to fla. with her in oct. so my question is can i bring them into the house until oct,and will they have to be hardened off again?----thanks---tom

I'm so sorry to hear about the whiteflies, they are a nuisance and hard to get rid of when your plants are large. Yes you can bring them into the house under lights and yes they will need to be hardened off especially going into the bright light of Florida. Be prepared for these plants to get big while they are inside.

You have plenty of time until these go south, you might just want to start fresh seed instead of battling the bugs.

I agree you would have to harden them off again - but that won't matter if they're going to Florida! They would have to be hardened off there in Florida anyway, to get them adapted to the new climate, IMO, before your friend plants them. So if you can save em from the whiteflles indoors, I say go for it.

Good point Patti about how huge will they be by October! And the issue of bringing whiteflies inside, could be nasty.
Yes, why not start fresh seeds indoors only 6-8 weeks before the journey. That would be best, for sure.

well i'm planning on potting up too so that will slow them down a bit. and it'll only be around 5 weeks til they are there, so i don't think they will be too awful big by then, i planted seeds on aug. 1st so they are only 2 1/2 -3 weeks old now. tallest one is maybe 5 inches the rest are smaller, i'll go for broke! lol only have to check them for whiteflies a couple more weeks then they'll be in the U.P. of mi. till they head south. lol thanks---tom