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#1
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when to plant?
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. --- This message prepared using voice recognition technology. There may be 'air roars'. |
#2
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when to plant?
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. Basically, yes but.... you should still remain alert to weather conditions and prepared to cover your plants if necessary. Those 'last frost dates' are only averages. Also, tomatoes tend to sit and sulk until the soil warms up. The use of WalloWaters is supposed to help, also black mulch is supposed to help. http://www.wallowater.com We used Wallowaters last year, and will again this year. They're pretty sturdy and should last for several years. Pat -- Pat Meadows CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY United States: http://www.stopthehunger.com/ International: http://www.thehungersite.com/ |
#3
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when to plant?
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 |
#5
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when to plant?
Jim Carter wrote in message . ..
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. --- This message prepared using voice recognition technology. There may be 'air roars'. Soil temperature is definitely important. If the soil isn't warm enough, the plants will just sit there. The stems will thicken a bit but that's about it. Most of the gardeners I know do hedge a bit on the last frost date. Ours is May 1 and I generally plant the majority of my tomato plants between April 15 and 20. I have had plants survive that were planted as early as February 28 but aside from having a few ripe early tomatoes, they don't seem to do any better than the ones planted in April and they often play out earlier. If you do hedge on the last frost date, I suggest having a plan ready in case of frost. I prefer placing a few wire flags around each plant if frost is predicted and place black garbage bags over the plants, making sure the plastic doesn't touch the plant. Row covers are also effective. My results over the last few years show that most plants will survive if covered unless you have sustained temperatures below 25 degrees. Lee Hall Zone 6B - Tennessee |
#6
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when to plant?
(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 |
#7
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when to plant?
You must live in a cool climate with a frost date so late in the season.
Actually, I was born and lived half my life in upstate NY, Champlain, Plattsburgh area and I think our frost date was the end of May. After living here in the south for almost 8 years, I forget these things. Either that, or I'm just getting old. Naaaaah! Anyway, a frost date is given to let gardeners know that the average last frost usually occurs about that time. It is not a guarantee. It can fluctuate 2 weeks in either direction. I usually plant a few on the frost date and then plant the rest about 2 weeks later to ensure I don't lose everything if a frost occurs. It's also easier to cover 5 tomato plants rather than 25 if frost occurs. Yes, tomatoes will pretty much just sit in cold soil and not actively grow. If you want to plant them in the cooler soil, try mulching or covering the soil below the plants with a dark weedblock material. Black or red works well. It must be something that allows water to penetrate (not a solid plastic). The dark color will heat up during daylight hours from the sun and retain the heat longer for the soil and roots to be happy. Some people also buy water walls (not sure if that's technically the name or not). They are made of some type of clear plastic that you fill up with water. You then wrap this or stand it up around each tomato plant to insulate from the cold. To me, they seem like too much work to get a couple of weeks jump on the season. Hope this helps answer your question. Penny Zone 7b - North Carolina "Jim Carter" wrote in message ... 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. --- This message prepared using voice recognition technology. There may be 'air roars'. |
#8
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when to plant?
Jim Carter wrote in message . ..
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. Tomatoes are particularly sensitive to cold soil. The plants will still be good, but you won't see tomatoes until september. What you can do is lay plastic (clear or black) on the bed for a month before transplanting. |
#9
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when to plant?
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#10
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when to plant?
On Tue, 11 Feb 2003 14:05:41 GMT, "Penny Morgan"
wrote: Yes, tomatoes will pretty much just sit in cold soil and not actively grow. If you want to plant them in the cooler soil, try mulching or covering the soil below the plants with a dark weedblock material. Black or red works well. It must be something that allows water to penetrate (not a solid plastic). The dark color will heat up during daylight hours from the sun and retain the heat longer for the soil and roots to be happy. Some people also buy water walls (not sure if that's technically the name or not). They are made of some type of clear plastic that you fill up with water. You then wrap this or stand it up around each tomato plant to insulate from the cold. To me, they seem like too much work to get a couple of weeks jump on the season. I've used them (last year) and I intend to use them again - in fact, as long as I live here where the season is short and nights are cool (northern PA in the Appalachian Mountains). They're no particular work. You plant your tomatoes as usual. You fill the WalloWater with a hose and drop it over the tomato plant. Done. Then later on when your tomatoes are large and have filled the WalloWater, you lift it out and put it away for the next year. http://www.wallowater.com The pictures on the website are really poor - they don't show them very well at all. These now come in red as well (from a different company, I think) - the red is supposed in some way to help the plants grow. I don't know if it does or not. Pat -- Pat Meadows CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY United States: http://www.stopthehunger.com/ International: http://www.thehungersite.com/ |
#11
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when to plant?
"Pat Meadows" wrote in message Here's an interesting chart I came across: http://www.naturalgardening.com/shop/frostdatesa-n.php3 CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY United States: http://www.stopthehunger.com/ International: http://www.thehungersite.com/ Thats interesting, but it is somewhere between wishful thinking and fantasy. It seems to give everybody an extra month growing season. I live in coastal va., and I think carefully about setting plants out in the first week of April. If, I lived NY city or New Jersey, I wouldn't. Len |
#12
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when to plant?
Pat Meadows wrote:
On Tue, 11 Feb 2003 14:05:41 GMT, "Penny Morgan" wrote: Yes, tomatoes will pretty much just sit in cold soil and not actively grow. If you want to plant them in the cooler soil, try mulching or covering the soil below the plants with a dark weedblock material. Black or red works well. It must be something that allows water to penetrate (not a solid plastic). The dark color will heat up during daylight hours from the sun and retain the heat longer for the soil and roots to be happy. Some people also buy water walls (not sure if that's technically the name or not). They are made of some type of clear plastic that you fill up with water. You then wrap this or stand it up around each tomato plant to insulate from the cold. To me, they seem like too much work to get a couple of weeks jump on the season. I've used them (last year) and I intend to use them again - in fact, as long as I live here where the season is short and nights are cool (northern PA in the Appalachian Mountains). They're no particular work. You plant your tomatoes as usual. You fill the WalloWater with a hose and drop it over the tomato plant. Done. Then later on when your tomatoes are large and have filled the WalloWater, you lift it out and put it away for the next year. http://www.wallowater.com The pictures on the website are really poor - they don't show them very well at all. These now come in red as well (from a different company, I think) - the red is supposed in some way to help the plants grow. I don't know if it does or not. Pat 4 or 5 plastic soda bottles filled with water also work. On "The Victory Garden" I remember them putting plastic around the cages. Opened them up during the day when the weather starts warming up. -- Susan N. --------------------------------------------- Click this site daily to help fund mammograms for women who cannot afford them. http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/ |
#13
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when to plant?
On Tue, 11 Feb 2003 21:56:26 GMT, "len"
wrote: "Pat Meadows" wrote in message Here's an interesting chart I came across: http://www.naturalgardening.com/shop/frostdatesa-n.php3 CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY United States: http://www.stopthehunger.com/ International: http://www.thehungersite.com/ Thats interesting, but it is somewhere between wishful thinking and fantasy. It seems to give everybody an extra month growing season. I live in coastal va., and I think carefully about setting plants out in the first week of April. If, I lived NY city or New Jersey, I wouldn't. Len I didn't write that, except the .sig file - mixed up attributions somewhere. It's an easy mistake to make, I'm just correcting it for the record. I never even saw that webpage... Pat -- Pat Meadows CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY United States: http://www.stopthehunger.com/ International: http://www.thehungersite.com/ |
#14
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when to plant?
In my experience, they will not do as well when you do that. Also, the
stress will invite insects and disease. The best that you can hope for is the same results as if you waited. On the other hand, planting SEEDS directly in the ground at that time works great for me. There is an illusion of getting a later start, but I have found that while it takes a while to catch up, the plants tend be much healthier and I have a much better overall crop by doing that. I read some research for a university that supported my experiences, too. Apparently, the stress of transplanting basically offsets and gain you get by starting with a plant instead of a seed. "Jim Carter" wrote in message ... 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. --- This message prepared using voice recognition technology. There may be 'air roars'. |
#15
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when to plant?
On the other hand, planting SEEDS directly in the ground at that time works
great for me. There is an illusion of getting a later start, but I have found that while it takes a while to catch up, the plants tend be much healthier and I have a much better overall crop by doing that. I think that if you use something like jiffy pots -- they transplanting process does not cause stress. I just started lettuce seeds . The ones I started in jiffy pots were healthier than sow = direct method. /z. |
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