(Frogleg) wrote in message ...
On Sun, 09 Feb 2003 15:45:07 -0500, Jim Carter
wrote:

Our last frost date is May 24. Does this mean that tomatoes may be planted at
this time even though the soil is still cool?I would, of course, have hardened
off the plants prior to this.

"Several weeks" after last frost date is recommended. A last frost of
May 24 is pretty cool (temperature-wise, not 'groovy'). I can never
remember whether it's Johnny's or Pinetree seeds that specializes in
short-season varieties.

Here's an interesting chart I came across:

http://www.naturalgardening.com/shop/frostdatesa-n.php3

Interesting, yes. Accurate, no. Don't I wish that the last frost
date was March 28 for Nashville, Tennessee. If you believe that you
could wind up with a bunch of frozen transplants. Sure, I have
planted that early but not without row covers, plastic bags and
wall-o-waters. They are off by slightly over a month. We get an
early April frost almost every year and May 1 is the accepted date
here according to the Dept. of Agriculture extension office.

Lee Hall
Zone 6B - 25 miles southeast of Nashville where I grew tomatoes for
many years