Z6/Z7 starting seeds

dcarch · February 12, 2007

Started my seedlings today.

May be a little too early for Z6/7?

dcarch

feraltomatoes · February 12, 2007

Last average frost date is a gamble. I shoot for it but every 3rd or 4th year I get nipped by a frost.
I like to plant a 6-8 week old plant into the ground, with those peat things I would say more like six weeks. Last average frost date minus 8 weeks would be the earliest I would go.(watch for frost dates to change in the future with all the screwball weather we have now)
I think planting half your plants, wait a month plant your other half but it looks a little late for that.
Hope for a warm, early spring, if not I am sure you'll pull it off. Good luck
Brad.........

Tania · February 12, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcarch

Started my seedlings today.

me too - half of them; the other half will be started next weekend

My transplanting dates are from late April (to greenhouse) to mid-May (garden beds). And everyone here thinks I am starting tomatoes too early

, but I don't care

dirtdigging101 · February 12, 2007

damm the frost, plant those tomatoes

go away winter
lol

Tomstrees · February 13, 2007

I started on Feb.28 last year Dcarch - I had my plants in the house until May 5th - It was waaay to early -
This year - I will start peppers on March 1st; and my tomatoes on March 15th.

I'm sure you have growlight (from your tom pics inside) -Dcarch - don't you live in NY ?
I'm in central NJ and I'm border 6/7 ... My parents in NW / NJ are zone 5 - and they usually plant out a week before memorial day -

My last frost date (again) is April 15th (need 6-8 weeks)-I wait 2 weeks after that to plant out - week of May 1 -

I'm sure they will be fine - just make sure they don't look like these !!! TRECHING IT WAS FOR 2006 !!!

~ Tom

ps. do you have a greenhouse >?

garnetmoth · February 13, 2007

Ive started here in TN.

I didnt start soon enough last year, and it was too hot to harden plants by the time they got up.

I should have gotten my tomatoes started too, but ill get them started sometime this week or next...

dcarch · February 13, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomstrees

I started on Feb.28 last year Dcarch - I had my plants in the house until May 5th - It was waaay to early -
This year - I will start peppers on March 1st; and my tomatoes on March 15th.

I'm sure you have growlight (from your tom pics inside) -Dcarch - don't you live in NY ?
I'm in central NJ and I'm border 6/7 ----ps. do you have a greenhouse >? --------

Yes, I am in NY Westchester. Want to compete who gets the first tomato this year? Big Zac? And no lying with last year's pictures

!

No I don't have a greenhouse. As I have posted in another forum, I have designed a demountable cold frame to get things going earlier. I am also designing a demountable lean-to greenhouse.

I have just completed a over-drive lighting system for seed starting.

It's a challenge to grow tomatoes when you don't have enough space and sun.

dcarch

dcarch · February 13, 2007

BTW, note the Styrofoam trays for the seedlings.

They are the lightest and most rigid trays to use and they are white to reflect light under your grow lights.

Always try to optimize. :wink:

dcarch

Tomstrees · February 13, 2007

Our "winter-projects" wouldn't count -
I'm sure you'll have fruit before I will -
but I except that challenge!
I'll have my plants in the ground by the first week of May -

No indoor on the vine tomatoes right ?
I'm in ~

Tom

*edit*
I know the challenge about "space" !!!
Not sun though . . . ...
*edit* lol ~
I use aluminum trays for "extra-light" ...
last year I just started too early ...

Tomstrees · February 13, 2007

even though you have a cold frame / some kind of greenhouse structure - I'm still in !
lol ~ Tom

dcarch · March 4, 2007

Three weeks later. Z6/7 NY, getting ready for an early (hopefully) spring.

dcarch

**nctomatoman** · March 4, 2007

Nice! Here are my babies as of two days ago -

natural · March 4, 2007

Very nice Craig.

I have one 50 cell tray with approx 500 plants started on Feb 7th. The plants need to be potted NOW. They snuck up on me due to my being on muscle relaxers for the past 2 weeks. (What day is it???)

I definitely waited too long to harden mine before potting. Now I must either risk them growing way too big by hardening before potting, or pot up and carry MANY trays in and out while hardening.

By the way Craig, are your plants hardened enough go back out all day after you rest them in the dark garage for a few days after potting?

Bill

February 12, 2007	#1
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	Z6/Z7 starting seeds Started my seedlings today. May be a little too early for Z6/7? dcarch __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato

February 13, 2007	#5
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	I started on Feb.28 last year Dcarch - I had my plants in the house until May 5th - It was waaay to early - This year - I will start peppers on March 1st; and my tomatoes on March 15th. I'm sure you have growlight (from your tom pics inside) -Dcarch - don't you live in NY ? I'm in central NJ and I'm border 6/7 ... My parents in NW / NJ are zone 5 - and they usually plant out a week before memorial day - My last frost date (again) is April 15th (need 6-8 weeks)-I wait 2 weeks after that to plant out - week of May 1 - I'm sure they will be fine - just make sure they don't look like these !!! TRECHING IT WAS FOR 2006 !!! ~ Tom ps. do you have a greenhouse >? __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 13, 2007	#8
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	BTW, note the Styrofoam trays for the seedlings. They are the lightest and most rigid trays to use and they are white to reflect light under your grow lights. Always try to optimize. :wink: dcarch __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato

February 13, 2007	#9
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	Our "winter-projects" wouldn't count - I'm sure you'll have fruit before I will - but I except that challenge! I'll have my plants in the ground by the first week of May - No indoor on the vine tomatoes right ? I'm in ~ Tom edit I know the challenge about "space" !!! Not sun though . . . ... edit lol ~ I use aluminum trays for "extra-light" ... last year I just started too early ... __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 13, 2007	#10
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	even though you have a cold frame / some kind of greenhouse structure - I'm still in ! lol ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 12, 2007	#2
feraltomatoes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Home=Napa Valley/ Garden=Solano County Posts: 245	Last average frost date is a gamble. I shoot for it but every 3rd or 4th year I get nipped by a frost. I like to plant a 6-8 week old plant into the ground, with those peat things I would say more like six weeks. Last average frost date minus 8 weeks would be the earliest I would go.(watch for frost dates to change in the future with all the screwball weather we have now) I think planting half your plants, wait a month plant your other half but it looks a little late for that. Hope for a warm, early spring, if not I am sure you'll pull it off. Good luck Brad.........

February 12, 2007	#4
dirtdigging101 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: north carolina Posts: 67	damm the frost, plant those tomatoes go away winter lol

February 13, 2007	#6
garnetmoth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: cincinnati, oh Posts: 492	Ive started here in TN. I didnt start soon enough last year, and it was too hot to harden plants by the time they got up. I should have gotten my tomatoes started too, but ill get them started sometime this week or next...

March 4, 2007	#11
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	Three weeks later. Z6/7 NY, getting ready for an early (hopefully) spring. dcarch __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato

March 4, 2007	#13
natural Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North GA Posts: 530	Very nice Craig. I have one 50 cell tray with approx 500 plants started on Feb 7th. The plants need to be potted NOW. They snuck up on me due to my being on muscle relaxers for the past 2 weeks. (What day is it???) I definitely waited too long to harden mine before potting. Now I must either risk them growing way too big by hardening before potting, or pot up and carry MANY trays in and out while hardening. By the way Craig, are your plants hardened enough go back out all day after you rest them in the dark garage for a few days after potting? Bill